US Firm To Expand Remdesivir Availability In India; Donate 4.5 Lakh Vials

COVID-19 India: Remdesivir is approved in India for restricted emergency use for the treatment of suspected or laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in adults and children hospitalised with severe disease.

US Drug firm Gilead Sciences said it is taking several steps to expand the availability of antiviral drug Remdesivir in India and will also be donating a minimum of 4.5 lakh vials of 'Veklury' to the Indian government as COVID-19 cases in the country surge. "In response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in India, the company is providing its voluntary licensing partners with technical assistance, support for the addition of new local manufacturing facilities and the donation of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to rapidly scale up production of Remdesivir", Gilead Sciences Inc said in a statement. "In addition to providing support to its licensees to expand their local manufacturing capacity, Gilead will also donate at least 4,50,000 vials of Veklury (Remdesivir) to help address the immediate needs of Indian patients," it added. Remdesivir is approved in India for restricted emergency use for the treatment of suspected or laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in adults and children hospitalised with severe disease.