US pharma giants Eli Lilly and Co's antibody drug cocktail has been approved for emergency use in India for the treatment of mild and moderate COVID-19 cases. This will provide the country’s healthcare system with an additional medicine to battle the deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

A combination of the U.S. drugmaker's monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab has been given approval for restricted use in emergency situations in hospital settings in adults, the company's Indian unit said in an emailed statement.

Monoclonal antibodies mimic natural antibodies that the body generates to fight infection.

The company said it is in talks with the Indian government and regulatory authorities to donate the drugs to help speed up access and provide more treatment options for COVID-19.

Eli Lilly's arthritis drug baricitinib in combination with remdesivir has already received restricted emergency use approval in India for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 adult patients requiring supplemental oxygen.

A similar antibody combination developed by Regeneron  and Roche in May has also received emergency use approval in India.