India bans the export of Remdesivir drug as Covid-19 cases surge

From the archive. Published on 12 April 2021 and not updated since. Figures and job titles may have changed.

THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: India temporarily suspended the export of the Remdesivir Covid-19 treatment drug amidst rising cases in the country.

In a statement issued by the government, it stated that ‘all domestic manufacturers of Remdesivir have been advised to display on their website the details of their stocklists in order to facilitate access to the antiviral drug.’

The Department of Pharmaceuticals has been in contact with the domestic manufacturers of the drug, advising them to bolster the production. Due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in India, there is a subsequent increase in the drug demand by the states during the vaccine drive.

To restrict hoarding and black marketing, drug inspectors have been directed to verify stocks and take necessary measures.

“There are 11.08 lakh active cases of covid-19 as of April 11 and they are steadily increasing. This has led to a sudden spike in demand for the Remdesivir injection which is being used in the treatment o Covid patients. There is a potential increase in its demand in the coming days”, the statement further read.

The states have been advised to follow the “National Clinical Management Protocol for Covid-19”, which has been implemented as the guiding document for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. “The protocol enlists Remdesivir as an Investigational Therapy, which was developed after interactions with the Committee of Experts”, the statement added.

With the mass vaccination program running across the country till April 14, several states have reported a shortage of vaccines even after the unwaveringly increase in cases.

Seven Indian companies, under the voluntary licencing agreement with the pharma giant Gilead Sciences, are producing Remdesivir injection in the United States of America. They have na installed capacity of about 38.80 lack units per month. While the World Health Organization (WHO) claimed that the drug has little to no effect on mortality, it has proven to be a promising treatment for Covid patients.