Torrent Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of wide range of pharmaceutical products, has entered into a royalty free, non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company, joining a group of leading Indian pharmaceutical companies for baricitinib for Covid-19 in India.

Under the agreement, Lilly has provided the license to manufacture and distribute baricitinib to Torrent for India along with Lilly's other license partners.

The agreement will help ensure wider reach and access to patients in India and further adds to Torrent Pharma's effort in helping patients affected by the pandemic. Baricitinib has been approved by the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India for restricted emergency use in combination with remdesivir for the treatment of suspected or laboratory confirmed Covid-19 in hospitalized adults requiring supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Commenting on the agreement, Aman Mehta, Chief Marketing Officer for Torrent said, "We are pleased to partner and work closely with Lilly to bring this treatment to market. This partnership further strengthens our efforts to help the nation fight the pandemic and provide quality treatment to patients. Torrent Group stands firmly committed to support the nation during this time of crisis."

Shares of the company gained Rs 21.8, or 0.8%, to trade at  Rs 2,747.45.  The total volume of shares traded  was  20,179 at the BSE (1.13 p.m., Friday).