Remdesivir prices to go below Rs 3,500, assures minister: Report
New Delhi/IBNS: Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday that the manufacturers of Remdesivir have decided to reduce the price of the anti-viral drug to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of the current week, said media reports.
This comes as India faces an acute shortage of the life-saving drug in the wake of the huge spike in Covid-19 cases, said an HT report.
Currently, remdesivir prices are not uniform, and ranges between Rs 900 and Rs 5,000 per vial, the report added.
On April 11, India banned the export of antiviral drug Remdesivir and and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) due to massive jump in coronavirus cases in the country.
India is witnessing a recent surge in COVID cases. As on 11.04.2021, there are 11.08 lakh active COVID cases and they are steadily increasing. This has led to a sudden spike in demand for Injection Remdesivir used in the treatment of COVID patients. There is a potential of a further increase in this demand in the coming days,” the government had said in an order.
The order stated that seven Indian companies are producing Remdesivir injection under a voluntary licensing agreement with US company Gilead Sciences. They have an installed capacity of about 38.80 lakh units per month.
"In light of the above, the Government of India has prohibited the exports of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) till the situation improves," the statement added.
All domestic manufactures of Remdesivir have been advised to display on their website, details of their stockists/distributors to facilitate access to the drug, the statement said.
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