COVID-19: BIG RAY OF HOPE! Dr Reddy's Labs developing new treatment for coronavirus? What MD GV Prasad revealed

Amid crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic, a BIG RAY OF HOPE has emerged in terms of treatment of the disease. According to a latest report, Hyderabad-based drug major Dr Reddy's Laboratories is working on the development of new treatment options for COVID-19 patients. Dr Reddy's Laboratories aims to launch options over the next few months while ensuring uninterrupted supplies of its existing range of products for the infectious disease in the market.

As per a report by news agency PTI, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Co-Chairman & Managing Director G V Prasad said in an analyst call said, ""We are motivated to serve patients in every possible way and with utmost urgency. This is reflected in the multiple collaborations we have entered to develop and commercialise a wide range of preventive and curative options for COVID treatment."

The Hyderabad-based drug major has already launched Sputnik V vaccine while partnering various organisations, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The drug firm over the past few weeks has ramped up supply of multiple medicines including Remdesivir to meet the surge in demand, he added.

"We are also working on the launch of newer treatment options, which we will bring to the market in the next few months. We have also ensured that supplies of our existing medicines continue uninterrupted and we continue to meet the market demand for all our markets," Prasad added, as per the PTI report.

Dr Reddy's had received permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to import the Sputnik vaccine into India for restricted use in emergency situations in April.

The company had partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct the clinical trials of Sputnik V and distribute the vaccine in India in September 2020.

Sputnik V uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination. Its efficacy was determined to be 91.6 per cent as per a published article in the medical journal Lancet.