generics

Gilead signs deal with generic drugmakers to expand global supply of remdesivir

pharmafile | May 13, 2020 | News story | Research and Development COVID-19, coronavirus, remdesivir 

Gilead Sciences has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with five generics drug companies in India and Pakistan to supply them with remdesivir.

The five companies who signed the deal with Gilead are Indian companies Cipla, Hetero Labs, Jubilant Life Sciences, and Mylan, and Pakistan based Ferozsons Labs. They will manufacture the drug for distribution in 127 countries. These include Thailand, South Africa, Belarus and Ukraine.

Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Gilead will transfer the technology used in its manufacturing process to scale up production. This will still be subjected to Indian and Pakistani regulatory approval, with India being able to use the drug on compassionate grounds.

Hetero chairman, B Partha Saradhi Reddy, commented on the agreement and said: “Hetero has developed this product in India and has already been working with the government, ICMR, and DCGI for necessary studies and approvals to bring this product to treat COVID-19 patients in India.”

Dr Umang Vohra, the Global CEO of Cipla Limited, also spoke on the agreement, saying: “As the world is faced with the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative that we collaborate and fight this virus together. We are pleased to partner with Gilead for this cause and take this treatment to patients across countries after the required regulatory approvals.”

Gilead has been working to build a global consortium to expand the production of remdesivir to make it available across the world to treat patients suffering with COVID-19.

The US gave the drug emergency approval on 1 May, after clinical trials in America showed limited effectiveness in treating coronavirus. But this approval only allows its use for patients with severe symptoms.

Conor Kavanagh

Related Content

Gilead’s Veklury recommended by NICE for COVID-19 treatment

Gilead Sciences has announced that the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has …

NICE expands access to Paxlovid for 1.4 million people at risk of severe COVID-19

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced that it has expanded …

diana-polekhina-zbsthwt9vlc-unsplash_2

Moderna shares data from phase 1/2 trial for combination flu and COVID-19 vaccine

Moderna has announced positive interim results from the phase 1/2 trial of mRNA-1083, its investigational …

Latest content