Eli Lilly and Company announced that it has issued additional royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licenses to established Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers of generic medicines, Dr Reddy’s Ltd, MSN Laboratories and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, who will be collaborating with Lilly to accelerate and expand the availability of baricitinib in India. These three additional voluntary licensing agreements will ensure high quality manufacturing and accessibility of baricitinib during this pandemic improving the local treatment options available to positively impact the lives of people who are currently battling COVID-19 in India. 

Commenting on the development, Luca Visini, Managing Director, India Subcontinent, Lilly India, said, “We are swiftly working to ensure high quality manufacturing and equitable access of baricitinib for COVID-19 in India by issuing six voluntary licenses for baricitinib to pharmaceutical companies in India. We will continue to explore other possible initiatives to support patients and the healthcare system in India.”

In a continued effort to work closely with the Government of India and partners to ensure expanding availability of Lilly therapies in private or public markets, Lilly had announced donations of baricitinib through the humanitarian aid organisation, Direct Relief, to the Indian government for eligible hospitalised COVID-19 patients in India. This donation furthers both Lilly and Direct Relief's charitable goal of providing access to COVID-19 treatments to patients in need.

Meanwhile Lilly continues to engage in active dialogue with the regulatory authorities and government in India to donate Lilly’s anti-COVID-19 treatments, including Lilly’s neutralising antibodies (bamlanivimab and etesevimab to be administered together).