Patanjali’s COVID-19 Medicine denied. Yoga expert Baba Ramdev’s company Patanjali Ayurved announced the launch of its COVID-19 medicines. It produced a kit consisting of 3 medicinal tablets that in fact reduce Corona Virus Infection in the body. However, the principal investigator conducting the clinical trials for the products said. The trials were incomplete! While Uttarakhand’s AYUSH ministry said it had not approved these products for the treatment of COVID-19. Despite the company being one of the first to treat the Corona Virus. It is receiving harsh criticism after its launch.
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“It is an interim report. So, calling it a cure is simply wrong. The sample size is very small. We have tried this intervention on 100 people. And the trials are still not complete.” Said Dr Ganpat Devpura. Professor of medicine at the National Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Jaipur. Where the clinical trials for development were actually conducted. “The total sample size of the trial was 120. We still have to enroll 20 more people. Though the research is on the positive side. It is certainly not a cure.” He said in a press questioning. “There is a team of qualified researchers who have worked on the process. So far we have made a disclosure of clinical trial results. On the mild and medium COVID-19 positive patients. However, we are awaiting further clearances from the AYUSH ministry to take this further.” he added.
COVID-19 Cured At What Cost?
Patanjali’s founder Baba Ramdev told ET on Tuesday. Furthermore, the developed treatment would be in drug stores and available online within a week. “We have invested in this and are confident about the results. Also, the medicines have no side effects.” He said.
India’s drug regulatory authority, Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) stated. Traditional medicines that include Ayurveda medicines don’t fall in its domain. “We have not given any approval. Also, it is not our domain. The state licensing authority of Uttarakhand must have given its clearance.” Said a Senior official. But the Uttarakhand AYUSH ministry said its approval letter did not mention Corona Virus. And it had only approved immunity boosting and fever medication. A notice has been issued to the Ayurveda Company.
An official with the ministry of AYUSH said the ministry had not given permission for trials.Therfore, Patanjali’s COVID-19 Medicine is denied. The ministry has asked Patanjali to submit details of the sample size and study results data. “The ministry will have the study documents. Verified for validation of the data of the research outcome.” It said in a letter written to Patanjali.
Positive Results Unverified
The company had on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the results of the trial. Jaideep Arya, CCC at Patanjali Yogpeeth tweeted the results as amazing. Since, within three days, 69% of the patients were cured from ‘positive infection’. And all patients were cured within 7 days. Dr Abhishek Sharma, the coordinating investigator of the clinical trials at NIMS Jaipur. The interventions were tested on asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients. “The trials were conducted on 15-80 age groups and the mean age was 33-34 years. The trials showed 69% recovery in the active group and 50% recovery in placebo,” he said.
Patanjali Ayurveda has developed a demanded treatment. However, the licensing is a big issue. It has procured certification for treatment of other conditions such as fever and cold. But, it has not been specific for its clinical trials. Things can get more heated as it has been slammed with notices and lawsuits.
