Eskayef submits remdesivir sample to DGDA

Eskayef Pharmaceuticals, one of the leading drug manufacturing companies of the country, submitted its sample of coronavirus drug remdesivir to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).

The sample of the first batch medicine with reference number SKF/DTL-SAMPLE/2020/14 was submitted on Saturday, according to a press release by Eskayef.

The pharmaceutical company said it had received nod from the directorate over the price of the drug on 7 April.

The drug will be marketed within a few days once it receives the approval, said the press release.

The brand name for remdesivir manufactured by Eskayef is Remivir.

Meanwhile, the DGDA sent a press release to the media on Saturday elaborating the production of the drug.

According to the release, signed by DGDA director Md Ruhul Amin, Eskayef would be issued marketing authorisation certification if the submitted sample is found satisfactory in laboratory testing.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, another drug maker of the country, issued a press release Saturday regarding the production of remdesivir in the country.

Beximco claimed it was the first in Bangladesh to produce the generic drug. Reports appeared in Prothom Alo and Daily Star on Saturday saying Eskayef was the first in Bangladesh to produce remdesivir.

Beximo, however, claimed reports published in the media regarding production of COVID-19 drugs were ‘confusing’ and ‘factually incorrect’.

According to the release, Beximco submitted samples of the generic drug to the DGDA on 7 May.

Remdesivir, manufactured by US company Gilead Sciences Inc, has created a sensation all over the world in treating COVID-19.