Under a licensing agreement, these companies have the right to receive a technology transfer of Gilead's manufacturing process for remdesivir to enable them to scale up production quicker.
Three Indian drug makers, and a Netherlands-based firm which has a majority of its plants in the country, are gearing up to make antiviral drug remdesivir, according to a report by the Business Standard. Remdesivir is under consideration for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
These companies — Cipla, Hetero Labs, Jubilant LifeSciences and Dutch firm Mylan — have signed licensing pacts with United States-based Gilead.
Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic
Under the licensing agreements, the companies have the right to receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process for remdesivir to enable them to scale up production more quickly.
The report cites a Mylan India spokesperson confirming that the company would make the drug at its Indian plants. Almost half of Mylan’s manufacturing facilities — 21 plants across seven states — are in India.
Also read: Data from COVID-19 vaccine's phase-1 trials to be out in a month: AstraZeneca
Jubilant’s Chairman Shyam S Bhartia and Co-chairman Hari S Bhartia told the newspaper that they are “monitoring the clinical trials and regulatory approvals very closely and would be ready to launch the drug shortly after the required approvals.”
“We also plan to produce the drug’s API in-house, helping its cost effectiveness and consistent availability,” they added.
Click here for Moneycontrol’s full coverage of the novel coronavirus pandemicSpecial Offer: Subscribe to Moneycontrol PRO’s annual plan for ₹1/- per day for the first year and claim exclusive benefits worth ₹20,000. Coupon code: PRO365
