A drug company in Bangladesh has announced that it has produced the first brand-unprotected version of the anti-viral remedivir drug, which is currently being tested as a possible treatment for Covid-19, a disease that may die from infection with the emerging coronavirus.
"We have succeeded in completing all steps to manufacture Remisdiver," said Simin Hussain, president of Escive Pharmacioticals Bangladesh Limited for pharmaceutical drugs, speaking on the patented production of the drug produced by US company Gilead Sciences.
The announcement comes at a time "Gilliad" is negotiating with drug manufacturers in India and Pakistan on remedial production for developing countries.
The marketing director of the company Escive Mujahiduddin Islam told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that "Remiever", the brand name of the Remisevir drug manufactured by the company, will be available for use in hospitals "within a few days" after he obtains the approval of the regulatory authority In the country.
Escive is one of eight companies that the government of Bangladesh has agreed to produce Remisdiver after the US Food and Drug Administration agreed to issue an emergency use license for the drug.
Under WTO agreements, Bangladesh, as a member state of the United Nations from among the group of least developed countries, is allowed to produce any patented drugs, without obtaining a license.
Islam said that scientists began developing the drug last March, before it became clear that the US administration would agree to produce the drug.
The company fixed the price of the drug at 5,500 taka ($ 65) for one glass bottle after consultations with the government.
As of Friday, Bangladesh had 13,143 HIV cases, with a total of 206 deaths.