Mylan to launch generic remdesivir version in India at $64 per 100 mg vial

Syngene International

06/07/2020 12:07

BENGALURU, July 6 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Mylan NV  MYL.O 
said on Monday it would launch its generic version of Gilead
Sciences Inc's  GILD.O  COVID-19 treatment remdesivir in India
this month at 4,800 rupees ($64.31) per 100 mg vial, as
infections surge in the world's third worst-hit country.
    The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Mylan's
remdesivir version, to be called Desrem, for the treatment of
suspected or laboratory confirmed severe incidences of COVID-19
in adults and children, the company said in a statement https://prn.to/2By83B9.
    Mylan's version comes after two Indian drugmakers, Cipla Ltd
 CIPL.NS  and privately-held Hetero Labs Ltd, launched their
generic versions of the drug.
    Cipla will price its version, Cipremi, at less than 5,000
rupees, while Hetero has priced its version, Covifor, at 5,400
rupees.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2E02NP urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2E12JP
    Gilead has priced remdesivir at $2,340 per patient for
wealthier nations. It has agreed to send nearly all of its
supply of the drug to the United States over the next three
months, stirring concerns about availability elsewhere.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2E62WK urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2E85LC 
    Remdesivir is in high demand after the
intravenously-administered medicine helped to shorten hospital
recovery times in a clinical trial. On Friday, it got
conditional approval from the European Commission for use in
severe COVID-19 patients.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2EA2Q8 
    Mylan said it was working toward expanding emergency use
access for patients in the 127 low- and middle-income countries
where it is licensed by Gilead Sciences to do so.
    Gilead has signed licensing agreements with India's
Dr.Reddy's Laboratories Ltd  REDY.NS , Jubilant Life Sciences
Ltd  JULS.NS , Syngene International Ltd  SYNN.NS  and Zydus
Cadila, listed as Cadila Healthcare Ltd  CADI.NS , to make and
sell remdesivir.
    Cases of the novel coronavirus in India stood at 697,413 on
Monday, federal health ministry data showed https://bit.ly/2VPOFGm,
 while the death toll stood at nearly 20,000.
          
($1 = 74.6356 Indian rupees)

 (Reporting by Anuron Kumar Mitra in Bengaluru; Editing by
Rashmi Aich)
 ((AnuronKumar.Mitra@thomsonreuters.com; +91 99863 58469;))