Asian Tech Press (Dec 28) -- Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero will launch the world's first generic version of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 oral antiviral drug Paxlovid that has received WHO pre-qualification.

Hetero announced Tuesday that it has received approval from the World Health Organization Prequalification Program (WHO PQ) for its generic version of COVID-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate, Nirmacom.

This is the first prequalification for the generic version of Pfizer's COVID-19 oral antiviral drug Paxlovid, meaning Hetero's Nirmacom is the world's first generic version of COVID-19 oral antiviral drug Paxlovid to be prequalified by WHO.

Hetero will manufacture the combi pack under the name Nirmacom at its facilities in India.