The authorities have permitted Beximco Pharmaceuticals to produce a generic version of US drugmaker Merck & Co’s experimental pill to treat COVID-19. More companies are awaiting approval in Bangladesh after Merck signed a deal that will allow the drug to be manufactured and sold cheaply in poor nations. Besides Beximco, Square, Eskayef, Incepta, General Pharma, Beacon Pharma, Renata and three other companies have applied to the Directorate General of Drug Administration for the production go-ahead, reports bdnews24.com citing The New York Times. The DGDA authorised the production of the drug because “it wants Bangladesh to be free from COVID-19”, said Ayub. The deal will allow companies in 105 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia and including Bangladesh, to sublicence the formulation for the antiviral pill and begin making it.

Source: bd News24 November 09, 2021 04:46 UTC