India said on Sunday it had banned the export of antiviral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients after a record spike in Covid-19 cases sent demand surging.
“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 health ministry said in a statement.
Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences, with an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month.
Remdesivir, is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication administered via injection into a vein. Remdesivir was approved or authorized for emergency use to treat Covid‑19 in around 50 countries. Data has shown that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection.
“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 health ministry said in a statement.
Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences, with an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month.
Remdesivir, is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication administered via injection into a vein. Remdesivir was approved or authorized for emergency use to treat Covid‑19 in around 50 countries. Data has shown that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection.
