Virafin receives emergency use approval

Virafin receives emergency use approval

Part of: GS Prelims and GS –II – Health & GS-III – Sci & tech 

In news

• Drug Controller General Of India (DCGI) gave a restricted emergency use approval to the Zydus Cadila’s ‘Virafin’ for treating the patients showing moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Key takeaways 

• Virafin is a pegylated interferon alpha-2b(PegIFN), which when subcutaneously injected to the patient in the early stages of infection, resulted in their faster recovery.
• The clinical trials have confirmed the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Virafin. 
• The studies also reported that Viarfin reduces viral load and aid in managing the disease in a better way, such as reduction in the need for supplemental oxygen.