Cipla is also in talks with other global pharma companies for similar supply agreements, the paper said.

With consumer companies seeking remedies for sluggish growth, it's a good time for global pharma groups to offload their non-core businesses.

Comparing the top-ranked hypotheses to the current global pharma pipeline serves validation of our approach and identifies and prioritizes new therapeutic opportunities.

Up to 570 staff at global pharma giant MSD face redundancy in the second major jobs blow at the company this year.

Global pharma companies are racing to develop vaccines and treatments for coronavirus, which has reached 350,000 cases globally and resulted in over 15,000 deaths.