Eli Lilly licenses baricitinib to Natco Pharma for Covid-19 and grants six voluntary licence agreements with Indian Pharma companies for the drug.

Eli Lilly announced it has signed a voluntary licensing agreement with Natco Pharma to further expedite the availability of baricitinib for COVID-19 patients in India. The company has issued an additional royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary license to Natco Pharma and the Hyderabad-based company will be collaborating with Eli Lilly to further accelerate and expand the availability of baricitinib in India during this pandemic. The move will improve the local treatment options available and will positively impact the lives of people who are currently battling COVID-19 in India, Eli Lilly said in a statement. Earlier, the company had announced signing of six voluntary license agreements with Cipla, Lupin, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr Reddy's, MSN Laboratories and Torrent Pharmaceuticals. Natco had announced receipt of an emergency use authorization from the Indian regulator for baricitinib tablets 1/2/4mg for use in combination with remdesivir for COVID-19.The Indian firm had then gone on to launch its baricitinib 4mg version (branded Barinat), priced at INR30 ($0.41) per tablet.