The Japan-approved drug authorized for emergency use to treat coronavirus disease infection is now available in the Philippines.
Remdesivir is an investigational drug that has shown broad-spectrum antiviral activity against various viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19. Available data point to reduced recovery times in COVID-19 patients.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of the drug to treat patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Camber Pharmaceuticals brings remdesivir, licensed by Gilead Sciences, to the country.
“The availability of Remdesivir in the Philippines is a significant milestone for all of us and we are very thankful to our parent company Hetero,” said Camber Pharma’s country manager Manoj Sihag.
He added, “With Remdesivir, we hope to reduce the treatment time of a patient in a hospital, thereby reducing burden on medical facilities in COVID-19 cases.”
Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hetero, one of India’s leading generic pharmaceutical companies, which has partnered with Gilead for a licensing agreement to make the product accessible in 127 countries.
Hetero has developed the technology and initiated commercial production of remdesivir API and Formulation which is being considered for COVID-19.
Under the licensing agreement, the company has a right to receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process for the antiviral drug to enable it to scale up production.
The licensee also set its own prices for the generic product. The licensee is royalty-free until the World Health Organization declares the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding COVID-19, or until a pharmaceutical product other than remdesivir or a vaccine is approved to treat or prevent COVID-19.
In the coming days, more remdesivirs are expected to flood the market.
Country product manager Imee Lapig-Igpuara explained, “It is important to note that not all remdesivirs are the same. Not all remdesivirs are legal to be marketed in the Philippines under patent protection.”
Lapig-Igpuara continued, “Do not compromise the safety of patients at this critical moment. It is best to know the source of your remdesivir. Check the packaging marked with ‘manufactured under the license of Gilead Sciences, Inc.’”