Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said it has become the world’s first company to start selling the generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc.’s antiviral drug on mounting urgency to treat the infection caused by the deadly coronavirus across the developing world.
The Dhaka-based Beximco, which counts Norges Bank as one of its investors, will sell remdesivir for about 6,000 taka ($71) a vial to private clinics but will give it free to state-run hospitals treating Covid-19 patients, Rabbur Reza, chief operating officer at the company, said in an interview. A critically ill Covid-19 patient will need at least six vials, he said.
Bangladesh can produce generic versions of patented drugs under World Trade Organization provisions that grant least developed countries a waiver from seeking licenses. Remdesivir was cleared by U.S. drug regulator for emergency use in Covid-19 patients, becoming the first medication backed by early clinical data to be made available to fight the novel pathogen.
Receiving Queries
“We’re also receiving queries from other countries,” Reza said. “The drug will not be supplied through traditional distribution channels. If some governments need our drug, we’ll export it.”
Bangladesh had more than 26,000 infected cases as of Wednesday, while the disease had killed 386, according to data from Johns Hopkins University
The United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool, which is helping Gilead find partners, contacted Beximco asking if it was interested in the voluntary licensing for remdesivir, said Reza. Beximco is waiting to hear back, he said.
A Gilead representative didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.
Gilead Gives Royalty-Free Remdesivir Licenses to Five Drugmakers
Gilead has since licensed five companies including Cipla Ltd. and Mylan NV in India and Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd. in Pakistan to make generic versions of the drug and sell in 127 countries.
Norway’s Norges Bank, the world’s biggest sovereign fund, controls 3% of Beximco, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Beximco will sell the drug under the brand name bemsivir, according to a statement from the company. –Bloomberg
Also read: Bangladesh reports first Covid-19 case at Rohingya refugee camps
Many countries do not want to value us but we are going ahead from our ownself towards development of anything silently for the betterment of country.
Yes we proudly said thats we are bangaly and we can do everythings. Love you my countey people. And every country listen be respect us. Hope you all are understand
ahhhh… bangladesh at last
Proud of the Bangladesh ?
There are a lot of great things we can be first in the world of, another example is having someone like me be an actor in Hollywood
Proudof you Bangladesh
Hindustan Times uses the exact same words.. In media, is this practice common?
good