NEW DELHI: India ’s top health research agency is working on a standard treatment protocol for dealing with coronavirus infections, said people with knowledge of the matter.This will comprise a cocktail of antiretrovirals used to treat HIV/AIDS, similar to protocols being followed in China.The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to allow a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir — approved for AIDS treatment — to be used if coronavirus infections turn into a public health emergency in India.The outbreak that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan has led to 427 deaths, with infections pegged at 20,000. There is currently no known treatment for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov). Cipla and Aurobindo are the main suppliers of these antiretrovirals in India. Indian generic companies, which are among the largest manufacturers of antiretrovirals, said they are prepared to supply to the government if need arises, ET reported on February 4.“An expert committee has been constituted by the ICMR (that is) deliberating on the new treatment protocol for dealing with coronavirus,” said a senior health ministry official.“There are no large studies done so far on the treatment of coronavirus. However, as an alternative, ICMR… may recommend these drugs for treatment of coronavirus,” said a senior health ministry official.The people cited above stressed that the approvals are being taken as a precaution against emergencies. “As of now, there are only three cases in India,” another official said. “We are still studying the data. An in-principle approval has been taken from the DCGI for these drugs to be used for coronavirus in case it turns virulent. But we will want to wait and watch, and not create any panic.”The three persons diagnosed with the infection are in Kerala and were studying in Wuhan.The treatment protocol established in China and followed by physicians in Thailand shows that a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir, along with flu medication oseltamivir, may be working on patients.The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning a global research and innovation meeting on the coronavirus on February 11-12 in Geneva, said Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at WHO. Scientists from all over the world will be attending. “Clinical trials of promising candidates are being planned,” she said.A randomised controlled clinical trial is underway in China to test the anti-HIV drugs’ efficacy, according to a study published on January 24 in ‘The Lancet.’ Along with drugs, the treatment protocol will include “cough etiquette,” added one of the officials cited above. That refers to the procedure that needs to be followed for those coughing and sneezing, in order to curb the spread of infection.A total 534 suspected cases have been tested in India, with three confirmed. Of the tested samples, 160 are from quarantine centres set up for individuals evacuated from Wuhan. In addition to thse National Institute of Virology, Pune, 11 virus and research diagnostic laboratories (VRDLs) are performing tests for the coronavirus.