Indian drugmaker Cipla has announced that it will price its generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc’s antiviral drug remdesivir for use in COVID-19 patients at less than Rs 5,000.
Cipla and Hetero Labs recently gained approval to sell generic versions of remdesivir in the country. Hetero expects to price a similar 100 milligram dose of the treatment at 5,000 to 6,000 rupees.
Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, one of Bangladesh’s largest drugmakers, in May became the first company in the world to introduce a generic variant of remdesivir.
Remdesivir, intravenously administered in hospitals, is the first treatment to show improvement in COVID-19 trials. It has been approved for emergency use in severely-ill patients in the United States, India and South Korea, and has received full approval in Japan.
Shares of Cipla climbed over 9 per cent in Monday’s trade after the drug maker announced the launch of its generic version of remdesivir.
To enable speedy and equitable access to this treatment and in anticipation of demand, Cipla will be commercialising remdesivir through its own facilities and partnered sites, the drug maker told BSE.
The drug will be supplied through the government and open market channels to ensure equitable distribution, the company said.
MD and Global CEO Umang Vohra said, “Cipla appreciates the strong partnership with Gilead to bring remdesivir to patients in India. We have been deeply invested in exploring all possible avenues to save millions of lives impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, and this launch is a significant milestone in that direction”.
