Thursday, May 28, 2020

Beximco Pharmaceuticals produces generic remdesivir for Covid-19

Beximco Pharmaceuticals introduced generic remdesivir for Covid-19. Nazmul Hassan, managing director of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, announced "Remdesivir is to be given free of cost to government hospitals,".

The launch of the antiviral drug was announced at a ceremony in the health ministry in presence of Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque. While handing over the first batch of the medicine, managing director of the pharma said all government hospitals treat patients free of cost. "And therefore, we have decided to provide Bemsivir free of cost to all those severely ill patients at government hospitals." Addressing the programme, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has initially permitted six companies to manufacture drugs for Covid-19 treatment.

Beximco gave 1,000 remdesivir to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the treatment of critical Covid-19 patients, said a press release of the ministry.

Originally developed by US based Gilead Sciences, remdesivir is a direct acting antiviral drugthat inhibits viral RNA synthesis. Remdesivir is administered intravenously and is authorised forthe treatment of hospitalised patients with severe Covid-19 disease.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals said recent clinical trials have shown evidence that remdesivir helps severe Covid-19 patients recover faster. Japan Government has also granted special approval for remdesivir inemergency treatment of coronavirus. The emergency approvals will help broaden use of remdesivir in hospitalised patients, especially in developing and least developed countries where access to breakthrough, advanced drugs remains a major challenge, said Hassan. "This reinforces our commitment to play our part in ensuring access to breakthrough therapies despite facing many challenges amid this unprecedented pandemic," he said.

"As a responsible company, we will continue to extend our support to the government in all possible ways during this national emergency," he added. He said Beximco Pharma will supply Bemsivir to government designated hospitals for Covid-19 treatment, and it will not be available through retail pharmacies, in compliance with the directives from Bangladesh drug regulatory authorities.

On the very first day of receiving regulatory approval, Beximco Pharma has donated large quantities of Bemsivir to Bangladesh Government for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

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