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Gilead signs pact with generic drugmakers in India to expand supply of experimental COVID-19 drug remdesivir

Globally, the virus has infected a total of 4.23 million people as of now while the number of deaths has reached 290000.

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Gilead Sciences Inc on Tuesday said five generic drugmakers based in India and Pakistan have signed a non-exclusive licensing pact withthe company to expand the supply of an experimental drug used on COVID-19 patients called Remdesivir.

Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd, Cipla Ltd , Hetero Labs Ltd, Mylan NV and Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd are the companies that are allowed by the pact to develop and sell the drug in  127 countries. 

The American pharmaceutical company also stated that the licensees will set their own prices for the product it produces. It also stated that the licenses are royalty-free until the World Health Organization (WHO) declares an end to the public health emergency triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The company also added that royalties will not be collected until there is a vaccine to treat or prevent COVID-19 is approved.

The experimental drug 'remdesivir' reportedly showed positive responses in severe COVID-19-affected patients, according to reports by a medical news website STAT. To further the case, the University of Chicago Medical Center, participating in a study of the antiviral medication, said that it is seeing encouraging reports, including rapid recoveries of fever and respiratory symptoms, in almost all patients who were a part of the remdesivir trials last week.

Remdesivir, which was originally tested in Ebola patients, has emerged as one of the top near-term hopes for COVID-19 patients. In addition to carrying out its own clinical trials, Gilead has made the drug available to studies run by other sponsors.

It is to be noted that there is still no clinically approved treatment of COVID-19, therefore the company's pricing and distribution of the drug is being closely watched as interest grows. 

Globally, the virus has infected a total of 4.23 million people as of now while the number of deaths has reached 290000. 

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