Mumbai: Cipla Limited, India’s 3rd largest pharmaceutical firm on Thursday launched a polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kit ‘ViraGen’ for COVID-19 in the Indian market.
ViraGen will be manufactured by Ubio Biotechnology Systems and marketed and distributed by Cipla. The company will commence supply of the detection kit from May 25, 2021
ViraGen is Cipla’s third offering in the Covid-19 testing segment. Cipla already has partnerships for antibody detection kit and antigen test kits.
ViraGen is a real-time detection kit approved by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and is based on multiplex PCR technology. It helps to identify and detect SARS CoV-2 N Gene and ORF Lab Gene with the sensitivity of 98.6% and the specificity of 98.8% as compared to a standard ICMR test.
This test is designed for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in the upper and lower respiratory specimens from individuals suspected of COVID-19.
In the current circumstances, Covid-19 RT PCR testing is extensively used throughout the country as governments, communities, and organizations are working tirelessly to track and curb the spread of the virus. This launch will help address the current testing services and capacity issues while reaffirming the Company’s ongoing expansion in the diagnostic space.
“Cipla has been working relentlessly to ensure accessibility to treatments in this fight againstCOVID-19. Guided by our core purpose of ‘Caring for Life’, this partnership will enable us to reach out to more people across the country at a crucial time like now” Umang Vohra, MD & Global CEO, Cipla, said.