SMS Pharmaceuticals gets license to Pfizer Covid‐19 drug nirmatrelvir

SMS Pharmaceuticals has secured a non‐exclusive license via the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for manufacturing nirmatrelvir, an oral antiviral Covid‐19 drug developed by Pfizer, to increase wider access to treatment in 95 low‐ and middle‐ income countries.

Previously, Pfizer had announced that the clinical trial of PAXLOVID (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets) demonstrated significant reduction of the risk of hospitalization or death with the drug for any cause by 89%, in comparison to placebo in non‐hospitalized, high‐risk adult patients with Covid‐19, who are treated within three days of the onset of symptoms.

The American pharma giant has inked a voluntary licensing with MPP to enable the latter for granting sub‐licences to manufacture generic versions of its Covid‐19 oral treatment to qualified generic drug manufacturers for supplying 95 low‐ and middle‐income countries, which includes India.

SMS Pharmaceuticals gets non‐exclusive license to manufacture and supply Pfizer Covid-19 drug nirmatrelvir. Image courtesy of Daniel Roberts from Pixabay.

The agreement will let MPP enable additional production and distribution of nirmatrelvir, subject to regulatory authorization or approval, by providing sub‐licenses to qualified generic medicine manufacturers, with the aim to boost global access.

P. Vamsi Krishna — SMS Pharmaceuticals Executive Director said: “It is our pleasure and pride to be a part of humanitarian mission by MPP and Pfizer with the goal of providing broad and equitable access of low‐cost oral COVID‐19 medicine for low‐ and middle‐income countries.

“With the ever‐evolving, dynamic covid‐19 related challenges across the globe, SMS Pharma is committed to develop and manufacture affordable and high‐quality generic breakthrough products that will help overcome current obstacles and future barriers to sustainable health for the people.

“We firmly believe in our legacy to receive licensing for products that require high‐quality efficiency while frugally maintaining lower costs and faster turnaround time. This is a testament to SMS Pharma’s reputation and manufacturing capabilities.”