Govt approves Incepta’s Tocilizumab Covid drug

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has given emergency approval of Incepta Pharmaceuticals' Tocilizumab drug, Tolosa 80, a monoclonal antibody to treat Covid-19. 

Tocilizumab is used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients admitted in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of hospitals, read a press release. 

Covid-19 can become deadly in some patients by causing hyper-inflammation and cytokine storm. Covid-19 can also extensively harm the lungs of patients, increasing the risk of death.

The drug prevents cytokine storms in the body of Covid patients in critical conditions, decreasing death risk. 

Both the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and World Health Organisation (Who) have given Tocilizumab emergency use authorisation for the treatment of Covid-19. 

Globally, only one multinational company markets this product. Incepta is the first and only company to launch the biosimilar version of this medicine. Incepta is hopeful that Tolosa will be able to meet the unmet demand of the market.