Eskayef will try to produce every medicine for treating Covid-19: Simeen Hossain

Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd will try to produce any drug that can treat Covid-19, said Simeen Hossain, managing director and chief executive officer of the company.

"We will keep trying to bring any medicine from any part of the world, capable of treating coronavirus infection," she said during an interview with The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, adding that Eskayef wants to stand by the nation during this time of crisis.

Eskayef has become the first drug manufacturing company in the world to successfully manufacture generic Remdesivir, the drug used for treating Covid-19 patients. The brand name for Remdesivir, manufactured by Eskayef, is Remivir.

"We decided to produce the drug in the middle of March. As it is an injection, the process was sensitive. The production steps are very critical. We decided to go for production only after getting confirmation from the providers of raw materials," Simeen said.

About the Japanese drug Avigan she said, "We have all the preparation to produce Avigan as well. We will go for manufacturing as soon as we get permission."

Regarding the price of Remivir, the Eskayef CEO said, "It might cost Tk five to six thousand. There are two kinds of doses -- of five days and 10 days. The five-day dose might cost Tk 30,000 and the 10-day dose Tk 55,000.

When asked if Eskayef got response from hospitals or government organisations, she said, "We have been contacted by many. But we cannot give it to anyone without approval from the government."

"Our preparations to make it available in the market are complete, now it is up to Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). If they give permission, we hope to be able to market it from next week," she said.

When asked if the drug will be available around the country, Simeen reiterated, "We will not be able to give it to anyone without the approval of DGDA."

She said, "We produce drugs for the entire country. We will be able to supply it within a short time after approval."

Upon being asked if they plan to produce any other drug in the future to treat coronavirus infection, she said Eskayef will try to produce any medicine capable of treating coronavirus infection for the countrymen.

"We will try to bring any drug from any part of the world capable of treating Covid-19 and stand beside the people of the country," Simeen said.