Advent portfolio company Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV) has launched an effort to determine which of its medications could help patients infected with Covid-19.

Two currently marketed therapies – Utryp and Alveofact – may provide supportive therapy to patients with coronavirus disease.

UTryp (Ulinastatin) is a serine protease inhibitor that reduces the pro-inflammatory response as a result of sepsis, acute pancreatitis, trauma or surgery. Alveofact, a natural pulmonary surfactant, is typically used in patients with respiratory distress syndrome.

BSV is also looking at a novel therapeutic polyclonal antibody, which could be evaluated for its benefits to some Covid-19 patients. The company aims to speed up the evaluation and approval process to as little as six months by seeking approval from authorities to move ahead with clinical development.

In a parallel initiative, the company has been educating Indian doctors on some of the emerging Covid-19 therapies that are being developed around the world, leveraging global experts as knowledge partners.

Founded in 1971, BSV is one of India’s fastest-growing biopharmaceutical companies. The company researches, develops, manufactures and markets biological, pharmaceutical and biotech products. It has more than 900 employees and is headquartered in Mumbai.