iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
To boost the supply of remdesivir — an experimental drug that has shown promise in treating Covid-19 — its maker, US-based Gilead Sciences, has signed non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements with at least six Indian pharmaceutical companies.
These companies are — Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd., Biocon company Syngene, Hetero Labs Ltd.; Jubilant Lifesciences; and Cipla Ltd.
Gilead has also signed a similar agreement with US-based Mylan which has a strong India presence and Egypt-based Eva Pharma and Pakistan-based Ferozsons Laboratories.
The agreements allow these companies to manufacture remdesivir for distribution in 127 countries, with regulatory approval status different from each country.
These licensing allow the companies to gain the technology used for remdesivr from Gilead and manufacture them at their own scale for faster availability to the public. Additionally, the agreement lets these companies set their own prices for the generic product they produce.
The licenses are royalty-free until the World Health Organization declares the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding COVID-19, or until a pharmaceutical product other than remdesivir or a vaccine is approved to treat or prevent COVID-19, whichever is earlier, Gilead said.
