30th Dec 2021 12:16
(Alliance News) - Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Thursday launched what it claims to be the world's first generic version of Pfizer Inc's Covid-19 treatment.
Pfizer's oral therapy Paxlovid was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food & Drug Administration last week.
The Bangladesh-based generic drug maker noted that Bangladesh's Directorate General of Drug Administration on Thursday also granted emergency use authorisation, which is to treat mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in patients 12 years and older.
Pharmaceutical firm Beximco noted the antiviral pill showed almost 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, while recent test data from Pfizer suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Beximco will market the Paxlovid generic under the brand name Bexovid, initially in Bangladesh only.
"Having previously introduced the world's first generic Covid-19 treatments of remdesivir and molnupiravir, we are pleased to add this breakthrough therapy to our portfolio," commented Beximco Managing Director Nazmul Hassan.
"It is further testament to our commitment to making affordable treatments accessible as soon as possible. As data continues to emerge demonstrating the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir against the the fast-emerging Omicron variant, we believe that Bexovid has the potential to be a powerful tool in combating the ongoing pandemic."
Beximco shares were up 5.5% at 114.50 pence each in London on Thursday.
Last Wednesday, the US FDA authorised Pfizer's anti-Covid pill after a surge of cases driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant and a period that saw Americans struggle to find tests.
At the time, President Joe Biden promised to invoke a law that would help Pfizer ramp up production quickly. The US has spent USD5.3 billion procuring 10 million courses of the treatment, with the first 265,000 to be delivered in January and the rest by late summer.
The EU's drug regulator has already approved Pfizer Covid pill for emergency use by individual member states struggling with the new wave of the disease.
Merck & Co Inc has also developed a similar anti-coronavirus pill, given the green light by the US FDA last Thursday.
While both treatments were found to be generally safe in clinical trials, more potential concerns have been raised about Merck's pill, called molnupiravir. The FDA has not authorised Merck's pill for people under 18 because it may affect bone and cartilage growth.
The FDA has stressed in the past that both the Pfizer and Merck pills should complement, rather than replace vaccines, that remain the frontline tool in the fight against the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the WHO warned a Covid "tsunami" threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems, as record surges fuelled by the Omicron variant dampen New Year celebrations around the world once again.
By Will Paige; [email protected]
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