Local Pharma Company Looks to Become Domestic Manufacturer of Molnupiravir

The application of Lloyd Laboratories, Inc. to become a local manufacturer of Molnupiravir — a pill for COVID-19 patients — was recently approved by the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI). The pharmaceutical company is now looking to invest ₱24 million in order to produce a million 400mg capsules of Molnupiravir. Production is expected to begin within the month at Lloyd Laboratories’ production facility located in Malolos, Bulacan.

Covid patients will be able to save between ₱35 and ₱85 per pill since the suggested retail price (SRP) of domestically-produced Molnupiravir is at ₱65 per pill. This is significantly lower than its international counterparts which can go for around ₱100 to ₱150 per pill. The company hopes to make the product available in the country as soon as possible.

Lloyd Laboratories was able to acquire a direct technology transfer on Molnupiravir production from Optimus Pharma, an Indian-based integrated pharmaceutical organization, according to the BOI. The pill has been found to result in faster clinical improvement in reducing the viral load of Covid patients with mild symptoms based on the Phase III clinical trials of Optimus Pharma.

A higher percentage of patients who took Molnupiravir have also been able to achieve negative RT-PCR test results on Days 5 and 10. These findings are backed by Vietnam’s Stella Pharma, a company also supported by Optimus Pharma, which presented RT-PCR negativity on Day 5 at 75.4%.

Lloyd Laboratories have been granted a Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing it to supply a total of 20,000 400mg capsules for one year or until November 2022 to Recuenco General Hospital. To make the product widely available, the company has also applied for a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) with the FDA.

“Amid the steep surge of COVID-19 cases exacerbated by the emergence of new variants, it is a crucial and urgent step to produce oral therapies locally to reduce hospitalization, and for those who will be hospitalized—to lessen the period of hospitalization, and to prevent the death of Filipinos who contracted the virus,” explained Trade Secretary and BOI Chairman Ramon Lopez.

“In fact, the BOI has been at the forefront of harnessing the Philippine manufacturing capacity in the fight against the pandemic including through the repurposing project for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), disinfectants, and ventilators; and industrial coordination to ensure that oxygen is available across all hospitals in the country during the Delta surge,” he added.

“We invite other pharmaceutical companies to look at this model and how we can replicate it in order to further fill-in the gaps not only in our fight against the pandemic but also in providing more affordable critical medicines and health products to Filipinos. The project’s approval is, of course, subject to relevant rules and regulations and whatever flexibilities afforded by our laws,” said BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo.

Source: Manila Bulletin