Gilead’s remdesivir is a promising candidate for treating covid and, in terms of safety, is considered better than HCQ NEW DELHI : India is counting on California-based Gilead Sciences Inc.
to voluntarily issue generic licences for the antiviral drug remdesivir, said to be one of the more promising drugs being tested to treat covid-19.
Having burnt its fingers with Gilead’s hepatitis C drug back in 2015—a move that saw the US retaliate—the Indian government is not keen on asking Gilead to compulsorily issue the generic licence of its novel drug, two senior Indian government officials said.
Instead, the government is hoping Gilead will voluntarily issue licences for its patented drug, like it did for the hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi, in 2015,