In big boost to India's COVID-19 battle, Hetero's Tocilizumab biosimilar gets DCGI's nod

The company informed this will enable medical practitioners to use the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalised adults who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen.

File Photo (Reuters)

New Delhi: Drug firm Hetero on Monday (September 6, 2021) announced that it has received emergency use authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for its biosimilar version of Tocilizumab for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Hetero, a globally vertically integrated pharmaceutical organization, said that it will market the drug under the brand name 'Tocira'.

The company also informed that this authorisation will enable medical practitioners to use the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalised adults who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

"This approval is extremely crucial for supply security in India considering a global shortage of Tocilizumab. We will be working closely with the government to ensure equitable distribution," Hetero Group Chairman, B Partha Saradhi Reddy said.

Tocira will be marketed by Hetero's associate company Hetero Healthcare in India.

Hetero's biologics arm, Hetero Biopharma will manufacture the drug at its dedicated biologics facility, based at Jadcherla in Hyderabad, the statement said.

The company's Tocilizumab 400mg/20ml is the biosimilar version of Roche's Actemra/RoActemra, and will be available from September-end.

Meanwhile, India recorded 38,948 new COVID-19 cases and 219 deaths on Monday. The country's overall caseload has now increased to 3,30,27,621 while the death toll stands at 4,40,752. 

(With agency inputs)