While COVID cases are surging across India, Paxlovid, an anti-viral pill, developed by Pfizer, is not available in the country as the drug companies are in no hurry to seek Emergency Use Authorization. In several clinical studies, Paxlovid was effective in people with a high risk of severe disease after being infected by Coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Multiple drug companies in India got sub-licenses from Medical Patent Pool to manufacture and distribute the generic version of the oral anti-viral medication in low and middle-income countries including India. Hyderabad-based Hetero-Labs acquired DCGI approvals also, however, the company has not clarified when the drug will be launched. This delay in the launch can be attributed to the bitter experience of healthcare professionals with Molnupiravir in the third wave, where they were left with lots of unsold stock and had to take write-offs.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/drugmakers-seem-to-be-in-no-hurry-to-launch-covid-antiviral-pill-paxlovid/92190207 )