Beximco pharma starts marketing of Remdesivir
Beximco Pharmaceuticals has started marketing of Remdesivir, the world's first approved generic remedy for coronavirus treatment.
The company has announced free distribution of the drug to government hospitals.
Nazmul Hasan Papon, managing director of Beximco Pharma, handed over the sample of medicine to Health Minister Zahid Malek at a function on Thursday (May 21).
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the emergency use of the antiviral drug Remedesivir for the treatment of Covid-19. Remdesivir has been shown to be the first effective drug to prevent replication of the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
Health Secretary Asadul Islam, Health Education and Family Welfare Secretary Ali Noor, Director General of Drug Administration (DGDA) Major General Mahbubur Rahman, PM's personal physician Prof. Dr. ABM Abdullah and Director of Central Pharmacy Brigadier General Shahidullah were present in sample handing over function.
Health Minister Zahid Malek expressed hope that the drug produced by Beximco would cure dying patients with coronavirus of Remdesivir. Evidence has been found that the drug is effective in several countries, including the United States. It has been approved by the Department of Drug Administration for emergency treatment. Coronavirus patients will be treated with this drug on the advice of pharmacologists.
The Health Minister said that although coronavirus infection has increased in the country now, it is not increasing by leaps and bounds. Compared to other countries in the world, Bangladesh is still relatively successful in preventing coronavirus.
He said the government does not lack sincerity in ensuring proper treatment of patients infected with coronavirus. Increase the number of laboratories, dedicated hospitals and isolation centers have been set up for their identification. The number of daily sample tests has exceeded 10,000.
Nazmul Hasan Papon, Managing Director, Beximco Pharma, while handing over the first batch of medicines, said, we have decided to provide free remedesivir care for the critically ill patients in government hospitals.
He said that as per the directives of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Bangladesh, Beximco Pharma will only provide Remdesivir (Bemsivir) to hospitals designated for Covid-19 treatment, not to any pharmacy. On the first day of receiving the approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority, Beximco Pharma handed over a large quantity of Remdesivir (Bemsivir) to the Government of Bangladesh as a grant for the medical use of Covid-19 patients.
The inventor of the US-based Gilead Sciences, Remdesivir is a direct antiviral which works directly in preventing RNA synthesis of viruses. Remdesivir is applied as an injection into a blood vessel. Covid-19 infected patient is permitted for use in critically ill and hospitalized patients.