Remdesivir output up, but supply bottlenecks remain
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The production of most sought after anti-viral drug, Remdesivir, has increased significantly but its availability continues to be a challenge in some States and private hospitals.
The production capacity of the remdesivir injection by seven domestic manufacturers has increased from 38 lakh vials per month to nearly 119 lakh vials, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said on Monday.
Developed by US-based Gilead Sciences Inc, Remdesivir is being used to treat Covid-19 patients with oxygen saturation below 95 per cent and those with moderate to severe symptoms. Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs is a major manufacturer of Remdisivir followed by Cipla, Zydus Cadila, Mylan Labs, Dr Reddy’s Labs, Syngene and Jubilant Ingrevia.
Steps on to check misuse of drug: DCA
Andhra Pradesh has received 82,000 vials of Remdesivir injections in the second phase. In the first phase, 60,000 vials were allotted to the State, said the Drug Control Administration (DCA) officials.
“The Remdesivir stock has been allotted for the period between May 1 and 9. So far, the Centre has allotted 1.42 lakh vials of Remdesivir to the State during the second wave of the pandemic,” said DCA Director General (DG) S. Ravi Shankar Narayan.
With the incidents of misuse and black marketing of Remdesivir injections, the State government is supplying the stocks to the notified COVID hospitals and monitoring the stock of Remdesivir and oxygen at various hospitals.
Officials gearing up to maintain enough oxygen stocks thehindu.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thehindu.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.