Amid India's motive of launching the indigenous drug 'Covaxin' by August 15 to treat COVID-19, the Drug Controller of India has approved the use of the 'Itolizumab' drug to treat the virus hit patients in the country. 

The major development has come when the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has been carrying out the human trials for Covaxin. 

According to the reports, 'Itolizumab' drug, which has been used to treat skin ailments psoriasis has been permitted by the Drug Controller of India for the restricted emergency use to treat the COVID-19 patients.

The psoriasis drug would be used to treat moderately and severely ailing patients due to the viral infection. The approval has been given by considering the unmet medical needs to treat COVID-19.

According to the PTI,  the approval for 'Itolizumab' drug was given after its clinical trails on the virus-hit patients in the country and after the expert committee consists of pharmacologists, pulmonologists, and experts from AIIMS found satisfactory on treating the patients. 

However, the Drug Controller of India has mandated that the patient must give written consent on using the drug before administering it to treat the virus.