'Remdesivir', the drug that is being used on Covid-19 patients in several countries including the US, will be available in Bangladesh from May 18.
The government on Sunday gave permission to six pharmaceutical companies in the country to produce remdesivir. The companies are Beximco, Beacon, Eskayef (SK-F), Incepta, Square and Healthcare.
Of those, drug produced by Eskayef (SK-F) is expected to hit the market by the 18th this month, according to a source at the Directorate General of Drug Administration.
Mohammad Mostafa Hassan, director of Eskayef Bangladesh limited, confirmed the matter to The Business Post adding that they are doing their best to deliver the medicine by May 18 through DGDA..
In the US, the FDA has already approved emergency use of the experimental drug remdesivir to treat hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19, but experts say more clinical trials are needed.
It had been used against SARS and Ebola virus before.
/teb/
