New data revealed by Gilead Sciences has shown that its antiviral drug remdesivir reduces death risk of severe Covid-19 patients by as much as 62 per cent when compared with standard care alone.
Doctors in state hospitals are being advised to use antiviral Remdesivir on COVID-19 patients strictly as per protocol amid some reports of liver damage in such patients treated with the drug, official sources said.
Several cities across India, including Mumbai, Bangalore are reportedly facing a shortage of the experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir. Delhi is also struggling to source it from other cities or buying it at exorbitant prices. In Delhi, both private and government hospitals have reported depleting stock of the coronavirus medicine.
Amid news that the US has bought up virtually the entire global supply of remdesivir, a new study outlines how the drug could save lives in countries with a lower hospital capacity, such as South Africa, where Covid-19 is beginning to overwhelm intensive care units (ICUs).
Pharma major Cipla on Wednesday said it has launched its generic version of antiviral drug remdesivir at a price which is among the lowest globally and is looking to supply over 80,000 vials within the first month.
The company joins domestic pharma firm Cipla and Hetero who have already received permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and market remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19.
The European Commission has authorised anti-viral drug remdesivir for the treatment against coronavirus on Friday, making it the first drug authorized at the European Union level for the treatment of COVID-19.
The Donald Trump administration has secured nearly the entire world stock of antiviral drug remdesivir from US-based Gilead Sciences for the next three months, leaving hardly any stock of the key Covid-19 drug for the rest of the world.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that the state government is planning to provide COVID-19 drugs, Remdesivir and Favipiravir, for free to people.
Following the approval of Covifor, the generic version of Remdesivir, by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Hetero Healthcare Limited is set to deliver the first set of 20,000 vials in two equal lots of 10,000 each.
Mumbai-based drugmaker Cipla on Tuesday announced that it will price 'Cipremi', its generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for use in Covid-19 patients, at less than ₹5,000 ($66) per 100mg vial.
Pharma major Cipla will price its generic version of antiviral drug remdesivir at less than Rs 5,000 per vial in keeping with its conviction of providing access to the medicines at affordable cost, the company said on Tuesday.
With pharmaceutical companies launching generic versions of Remdesivir and Favipiravir for COVID-19 treatment, medical experts on Monday said it was a "positive development" in the fight against the pandemic, but cautioned against regarding the antiviral drugs as "game changers".
Homegrown pharma major Cipla Ltd announced the launch of its generic version of remdesivir, which has been authorised for emergency use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients by the USFDA, under its brand name Cipremi.
Drug firm Hetero on Sunday said it has received approval from regulator DCGI to launch investigational antiviral drug Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19.
The Health Ministry on Saturday recommended the use of antiviral drug remdesivir in a moderate stage of COVID-19 while backtracking from its earlier stance on hydroxychloroquine, saying the anti-malarial drug should be used in the early course of the disease and not on critically ill patients.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd on Saturday announced it has entered into a non-exclusive Licensing Agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. that will grant the city-based drug maker right to register, manufacture and sell Gilead's investigational drug, Remdesivir
Drug firm Zydus Cadila on Friday said it has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc for manufacturing and distribution of remdesivir, a potential therapy for COVID-19.
Anti-viral drug remdesivir and tocilizumab, an immunomodulator, are being considered for "restricted use" on severely ill COVID-19 patients on "emergency and compassionate grounds", according to revised clinical management guidelines to be released soon.
India's drug regulator has granted US pharma giant Gilead Sciences marketing authorisation for its anti-viral drug remdesivir for "restricted emergency use" on hospitalised COVID-19 patients in view of the crisis posed by the pandemic.
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