Gilead has estimated remdesivir at $ 2,340 per patient for the wealthiest countries. (File)
Bengaluru:
Drug maker Mylan NV announced Monday that it will launch its generic version of the COVID-19 treatment remdesivir from Gilead Sciences Inc in India this month at 4,800 rupees ($ 64.31) per 100 mg vial, while infections are increasing in the third most affected country in the world.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the remdesivir version of Mylan, called Desrem, for the treatment of suspected or laboratory-confirmed serious cases of COVID-19 in adults and children, the company said in a statement.
Mylan’s version comes after two drug manufacturers, Cipla Ltd and Hetero Labs Ltd, a private company, have launched their generic versions of the drug.
Cipla will assess its version, Cipremi, at less than 5,000 rupees, while Hetero has offered its version, Covifor, at 5,400 rupees.
Gilead has estimated remdesivir at $ 2,340 per patient for the wealthiest countries. He has agreed to send almost all of his drug supply to the United States over the next three months, raising concerns about its availability elsewhere.
Remdesivir is in high demand after the intravenous drug helped shorten recovery times in the hospital during a clinical trial. On Friday, it obtained conditional approval from the European Commission for use in patients with severe COVID-19.
Mylan said he is working to expand access to emergency use for patients in the 127 low- and middle-income countries where Gilead Sciences allows it.
Gilead has signed license agreements with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd, Syngene International Ltd and Zydus Cadila, listed Cadila Healthcare Ltd, to manufacture and sell remdesivir.
Cases of the new coronavirus in India rose to 697,413 on Monday, according to data from the Ministry of Health, while the death toll rose to nearly 20,000.
