Mumbai based BDR Pharma has announced that it has entered into a royalty-free, limited and non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company, for the manufacturing and distribution of baricitinib for the treatment of COVID-19 in India.

This collaboration between BDR and Lilly will increase the availability of baricitinib in India, enhancing local treatment choices and favourably impacting the lives of those fighting COVID-19 in India.

“We are swiftly working to ensure high quality manufacturing and equitable access of baricitinib for COVID-19 in India. We will continue to explore other possible initiatives to support patients and the healthcare system in India,” states Luca Visini, Managing Director, India Subcontinent, Lilly India.

Commenting on the development and the royalty-free non-exclusive voluntary license with Lilly, Dharmesh Shah, Chairman, BDR Pharmaceuticals, said, "We are very pleased to partner with Lilly and this is the time to collaborate and fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The concern is to accelerate and harmonise production so that there will not be a shortage of drugs to be administered to individuals fighting the disease. We hope this collaboration will address more unmet medical needs by broadening and deepening the discovery and development of COVID-19 treatments options."

BDR has applied for restricted emergency use approval with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for baricitinib for COVID-19 in India. Lilly had recently announced seven voluntary license agreements with major local generic drug manufacturers in India for the production of the same.