The Searle Company Limited has successfully entered into an exclusive licensing and marketing agreement with Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh for marketing of Covid-19 drug Remdesivir, informed the company in a statement to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Friday.

This partnership will provide an immediate supply of the finished product at an affordable price and will help healthcare providers of Pakistan to treat their hospitalised Covid-19 patients without any delay, the statement added. 'Initially, the company is planning to import Remdesivir in finished form (ready to use) to meet the country's urgent requirements. The company is also planning to donate a sizeable quantity to the government of Pakistan which is actively fighting against this pandemic', the statement maintained.

Beximco is the first company in the world which developed and introduced generic of Remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19. Remdesivir is a direct acting antiviral drug that inhibits viral RNA synthesis. Remdesivir is administered intravenously and is authorised for the treatment of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 disease.

Remdesivir has been granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the US Food and Ddrug Administration (FDA) and authorities in Japan to treat hospitalised patients with severe Covid-19.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan