SAPM Dr. ZafarMirza said that an American company, Gilead, has voluntarily licensed five companies in South Asia, including a Pakistani medicine company's.
In a major development to cure coronavirus patients, a pharmaceutical company in the United States of America has enabled Pakistan to produce antivirals.
The announcement was made by the prime minister's special health assistant. Zafar Mirza on Friday at a news conference at the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC).
"Prime Minister Imran Khan held a video conference with Gilead on March 7 and convinced them to manufacture the drug in Pakistan," said the SAPM. He added that Pakistan would register the drug for the next six weeks in the next few weeks and production would start in eight weeks.
SAPM Dr. Zafar Mirza said Pakistan will export this drug to 127 countries at the start of production.
ہمارے لیے یہ خوشخبری ہےکہ پاکستان ان 5 ممالک میں شامل ہے جہاں کرونا وائرس کے علاج میں مثبت نتائج ظاہر کرنے والی دوا #Remdesivir تیار کی جائے گی۔ اس مشکل معاشی وقت میں زرِ مبادلہ کمانے کا یہ بہترین موقع ہے۔ وزیرِ اعظم کی خصوصی کوششوں کی بدولت یہ لائسنس پاکستانی کمپنی کو حاصل ہوا۔ pic.twitter.com/fBPViPdnKb
— Munaza Hassan (@MunazaHassan) May 15, 2020
Dr. Zafar Mirza stated that the drug is called #Remdesivir, and studies in the US showed that the drug resulted in a 30% decrease in coronavirus patients.
On this occasion, Commerce Minister Abdul Razzak Dawood said it was a great day for Pakistan and was in line with the government's strategy to diversify the country's exports.
"Our trading and investment offices are immediately informed and included in their financial strategy," said Dawood.
On May 13, Gilead Sciences confirmed that it had entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with five generic and Indian manufacturers to extend its experimental COVID-19 treatment regimen.
The Ferozsons Laboratories is being selected- to manufacture the drug and sell the drug in 127 countries.
