India has approved Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for emergency use in treating COVID-19 patients, the health ministry confirmed today.
Remdesivir is the first drug to show improvement in COVID-19 patients in formal clinical trials. It was granted emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration last month and has received approval by Japanese health regulators. "(Remdesivir) approved on June 1 under emergency use with condition for five dose administration," the Drugs Controller General of India said.
In India, Gilead has given voluntary license for production of remdesivir to Cipla, Jubilant Life Sciences, Hetero Drugs and Mylan under a royalty-free arrangement till an alternative drug is found.