Beximco Group has become the world’s first company to introduce generic Remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment. One of the largest drug manufacturers in Bangladesh, Beximco’s pharmaceutical division started working on it when Remdesivir, a drug developed by Gilead Sciences, captured the market attention as one of the most promising treatments for the contagious virus.
In a turn of events, the Bangladeshi Corporate giant handed over the first batch of its antiviral generic Remdesivir, about 1000 doses, to the government. As per Beximco Spokesperson, the drug would be available at free of cost for the government hospitals, however, it wouldn’t be accessible through retail pharmacies as per the requirement of Directorate General of Drug Administrations.
Earlier, Beximco Group, Co-founded by Salman F Rahman, one of the most successful businessmen in Bangladesh, had also experimented with Favipiravir, an antiviral drug that is being used by China.
While handing over the first batch of the drug to Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Beximco Pharma Managing Director Nazmul Hasan highlighted the availability of remdesivir for emergency use. He said that Beximco is the world’s first company to manufacture the generic version of this essential drug to fight COVID-19.
Also, Beximco is marketing the drug with the commercial name of Bemsivir and a patient would require about 6-11 doses to dilute the impact of the contagious virus.
At the handing over ceremony, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said, “A vaccine or a medicine for treating Covid-19 patients is yet to be made, but many countries including the US are using remdesivir as it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”
“Apart from remdesivir, some other medicines are also in the market to treat Covid-19 patients. Remdesivir can help stable emergency patients. So doctors can prescribe the medicine keeping in mind the condition of the patients,” he added.
About Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd: It is the pharmaceutical division of Beximco Group, which was founded in the 1970s by two brothers – Ahmed Sohail Fasihur Rahman and Salman Fazlur Rahman. Based in Dhaka, the pharmaceutical company caters to more than 10% of the country’s total medical needs and exports generic drugs to about 50 countries, which include the US and the EU.
