Bengaluru: Drug majors Roche India and Cipla on Monday announced launch of Roche's Antibody Cocktail in India priced at Rs 59,750 per dose for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in patients who are at high risk.

The high-risk category includes patients above the age of 60, and those suffering from co-morbidities like diabetes and heart, liver and kidney ailments.

"The first batch of the Antibody Cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) is now available in India while a second batch will be made available by mid-June. In total they can potentially benefit 2,00,000 patients as each of the 1,00,000 packs that will be available in India offers treatment for two patients," Cipla and Roche said in a joint statement.

The drug will be marketed in India by Cipla and the second batch will be made available by mid-June. Cipla will distribute the product by leveraging its strong distribution strengths across the country, it added.

The drug will be available through leading hospitals and Covid treatment centres.

The price for each patient dose [a combined dose of 1,200 mg (600 mg of Casirivimab and 600 mg of Imdevimab)] will be Rs 59,750 inclusive of all taxes. The maximum retail price for the multi dose pack (each pack can treat two patients) is Rs 1,19,500 inclusive of all taxes.

The cocktail drug has been shown to help these high-risk patients before their condition worsens, reducing the risk of hospitalisation and fatality by 70%.

The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) had recently provided an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the antibody cocktail in India. Earlier, it has also received a EUA in the US and several EU countries.

"Roche is deeply committed to supporting the ongoing efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, mitigate the deadly second wave and save lives. We are optimistic that the availability of Antibody Cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) in India can help in minimizing hospitalization, ease the burden on healthcare systems and play a key role in the treatment of high-risk patients before their condition worsens," said V Simpson Emmanuel, Managing Director and CEO, Roche Pharma India.