Bangladesh-based Beximco Pharmaceuticals has become the world’s first company to produce a generic version of the antiviral drug remdesivir, originally developed by US-based Gilead Sciences.
Remdesivir was originally designed as an Ebola treatment. It works by attacking an enzyme that a virus needs in order to replicate inside our cells.
A recent clinical trial in the US showed the drug helped shorten the recovery time for people who were seriously ill.
However, it did not significantly improve survival rates. Experts have warned that the drug should not be seen as a “magic bullet” for coronavirus.
But in the absence of any clear treatment for Covid-19, many countries are willing to try remdesivir.
Beximco’s production of the generic version will ensure quick supply of the drug to many countries in the South Asia.
Unconfirmed reports say that Beximco is likely to find manufacturing partners in India and Pakistan as well.
