Dr Reddys out of key antiviral drug Remdesivir stock

Remdesivir, a promising therapeutic candidate for Covid-19 is an adenosine analogue nucleotide prodrug administered intravenously, invented by Gilead, building on more than a decade of the company's antiviral research. Remdesivir has broad-spectrum antiviral activity both in vitro and in vivo in animal models against multiple emerging viral pathogens, including Ebola, SARS, Marburg, MERS and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It acts by interacting with the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and prevents viral replication by terminating RNA transcription prematurely. It has shown in vitro activity against the coronavirus 2 that causes extreme acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2).

The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd. had launched Remdesivir under the brand name "Redyx" in India as part of a licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead) that granted Dr Reddys the right to register, manufacture, and sell Remdesivir, a potential treatment for Covid-19, in 127 countries, including India.

Furthermore, it was reported that Dr Reddy's unit in Himachal Pradesh, which is located in the Baddi-Brotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt, had recently obtained permission from the Drug Controller to produce the antiviral Remdesivir in order to meet the high demand for Remdesivir due to the existing upsurge in Covid 19 cases.

According to The Hindu, an official release on Thursday stated that Remdesivir is manufactured in the country by seven manufacturers, with a total installed capacity of 38.80 lakh vials per month. Six factories have received fast-track approval for seven new sites with a combined production volume of 10 lakh vials per month. A new 30 lakh vials per month production line has been set up. These steps will increase monthly supply to about 78 lakh vials.