Islamabad- As coronavirus hits the world, Pakistan according the country’s top health official and a pharmaceutical company’s chief executive announced on Friday, is busy in producing antiviral drug remdesivir which has shown promise in treating the virus.
Osama Khalid Waheed, the chief executive of Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd, said that the production will be in progress within weeks. He spoke at a news conference alongside Pakistan’s de facto health minister, Zafar Mirza.
“Pakistan in the world will be among the first three countries which produces the vaccine and export it to the whole world” Mirza said adding that the vaccine will be exported to 127 countries worldwide.
Gilead Sciences have developed a drug named remdesivir which has been observed and tasted the most promising treatment for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 300,000 people.
Expanding the access of it, Gilead said it signed non-exclusive licensing pacts https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-gilead-sciences/gilead-ties-up-with-generic-drugmakers-for-covid-19-drug-supply-idINKBN22O2HJ with five generic drugmakers based in India and Pakistan, allowing them make and sell remdesivir for 127 countries.
Waheed further added that they would produce the medicine at minimum cost and make most accessible. He told, “it is a commitment by us and Gilead.”