Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir Pakistan & India Manufacturing

BY DJ Kamal Mustafa
May 15, 2020
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Pakistan to start production of coronavirus drug remdesivir within two months DR. Zafar Mirza says.

ISLAMABAD: Dr. Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan for Health, has said that the development of the effective drug ‘Remdesivir’ in the treatment of Coronavirus will start in Pakistan in a few weeks.

In this regard, Special Assistant Dr. Zafar Mirza in a briefing at the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) today said that the American company Gilead has permitted Pakistan to make antiviral drugs ‘Remdesivir’, this drug will be available in Pakistan. BF BioSciences of Pakistan will develop this drug.

Zafar Mirza said that the US agency FDA had allowed the use of the drug on an experimental basis. On May 8, the Japanese authorities had also approved the drug. After the approval of the Drug Regulatory Authority, the drug will be manufactured in Pakistan. In this regard, the Drug Regulatory Authority will allow the manufacture of drugs on a priority basis.

Speaking at a press conference on the occasion, Dr. Zafar Mirza said that there is no vaccine for the coronavirus and there is no authoritative cure for it yet. but Yes, the use of Remdesivir has reduced coronavirus disease by 30%.

Dr. Zafar Mirza said that five companies in the world have been licensed to manufacture this medicine Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir, one of which is from Pakistan.

He said that in this regard, Prime Minister Imran Khan had a meeting with the officials of the pharmaceutical company on March 7 and in a few weeks the manufacture of this medicine would start in Pakistan.

The Special Assistant said that the registration of the drug will be done in 5 weeks while its production will start in 8 weeks after which the drug can be exported from Pakistan to 127 countries.

Dr. Zafar Mirza said that the number of Corona patients is likely to increase in the coming days so we are trying to ensure Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir at the lowest possible price.

Remdesivir is the only drug approved to treat COVID-19 after promising early trial results prompted United States regulators to grant emergency use authorization on May 2.

He said that earlier this medicine was manufactured by GSI in the United States, 2 countries in the world are allowed to manufacture this medicine, Pakistan is one of them and second is India, Gilead has signed agreements with 5 manufacturers in South Asia. Manufacturer BF BioSciences Limited has also entered into an agreement with Gilead in this regard.

Dr. Zafar Mirza further said that not only the medical staff but also every great mujahid of every first line of duty against Corona has been given guidelines and rules.