India's Drug Regulator Approves Psoriasis Drug For Emergency Use In Covid-19 Treatment

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted restricted emergency use authorization to Psoriasis drug 'Itolizumab' for treatment of moderate to severe Covid-19 patients, the Health Ministry said in a release on Saturday (11 July).

Itolizumab is a drug manufactured and marketed by phama major Biocon and is already approved for treating 'Psoriasis', a skin ailment.

The approval for the drug was granted after DCGI's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) deliberated on the results presented by Biocon of the Phase 2 clinical trials of the drug in the Covid-19 patients.

"After detailed deliberation and taking into account the recommendations of the Committee, DCGI has decided to grant permission to market the drug under Restricted Emergency Use of the drug for the treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) in moderate to severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients due to COVID-19," the release said.

The release added that use of the drug would be subject to some conditions like informed consent of patients, a risk management plan besides it being used in hospital set up only.