Great News: Pakistan Set To Make COVID-19 Controlling Drug In Six Weeks

remdesivir Pakistan

Coronavirus has left no stone unturned is devastating the world. However, there is a piece of good news. A Pakistani company will make Remdesivir, an American drug being utilized to treat COVID-19 patients, in less than two months, says Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza. 

“American company Gilead has manufactured this drug and it has proven effective in treating coronavirus patients,” he said. “It is said that the use of the drug has reduced the intensity of the virus by 30%.”

“Among the five companies [granted the license to manufacture the drug] one of them is a Pakistani company,” he said, it as a “breakthrough news”.

Dr. Zafar Mirza said that the medicine will be available for coronavirus patients in Pakistan after six to eight weeks. He said that the whole registration process will take 6 to 8 weeks after that manufacturing will be started.  

remdesivir

Source: MD Linx

“It will not only be available for patients in Pakistan but the plan is to export this drug to 127 countries,” he stated. “Pakistan will be among three countries in the world to produce and export this to 127 countries. This is a big breakthrough and this is big news for coronavirus patients in Pakistan, who are increasing by the day and are expected to increase more.”

The contract will be given to Ferozsons Laboratories Limited. As per Osman Khalid Waheed, CEO Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, the company aims to sell the drug ar least cost. 

Adviser to the PM Imran for Commerce, Textile, and Investment Abdul Razzak Dawood stated that it was a noble moment for Pakistan and the pharmaceutical industry for achieving the license. 

He told that it was the government’s plan to increase exports and that involved pharmaceuticals. “It is not only good news for the people of Pakistan but for countries around the world.”

Free COVID-19 Vaccine

Several countries are racing towards a vaccine that could immune one from having coronavirus. However, those living in the third world are not in the race. The leading countries are the USA, China, UK, Israel, Japan, and Germany. Although the companies of China and the USA have successfully passed the initial trial and are in the next phases of vaccine development.

The problem here arises that for the third world countries there is no chance of having data on vaccines due to meager resources.

Hence, Prime Minister Imran Khan has signed the letter stating any vaccine for coronavirus must not be patented and the science must be shared among countries. The letter has 140 signatories.

remdesivir Pakistan

Source: Reuters

“Governments and international partners must unite around a global guarantee which ensures that, when a safe and effective vaccine is developed, it is produced rapidly at scale and made available for all people, in all countries, free of charge,” the letter reads. “The same applies to all treatments, diagnostics, and other technologies for COVID-19.”

The letter comes amid tensions in France after French pharmaceutical company ‘Sanofi’ said that it would keep in reserve the first shipments of any coronavirus vaccine for the United States (US).

The letter was signed by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and Senegalese President Macky Sall. EX- presidents and premiers among the signatories are  Shaukat Aziz,  Jose Manuel Barroso, Jan Peter Balkenende, Juan Manuel Santos. Felipe Gonzalez, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Helen Clark, Aleksander Kwasniewski,  Olusegun Obasanjo, Mary McAleese, and Gordon Brown. The signatories want the World Health Assembly (WHA) to ponder upon the issue. 

Above all, the letter will help the world in getting the technology to fight the menace of COVID 19. Besides, the manufacturing of Remdesivir drug is a good omen for Pakistan as she can aggrandize her exports and the drug will help in healing the patients of coronavirus.

Earlier, China invited Pakistan to enjoin the COVID-19 vaccine trials in Pakistan. China is leading the race of vaccine followed by the USA. As per experts, if nothing goes wrong the world will have the Chinese vaccine till August/Septemeber.

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