Bangladesh’s BEXIMCO, Beacon to produce corona drug

Cox Gazette April 5, 2020, 08:07 PM Bangladesh’s BEXIMCO, Beacon to produce corona drug

Bangladesh’s two pharmaceuticals are set to produce Japan’s medicinal drug favipiravir, successfully tested in China to treat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Following human trial, earlier in the mid-March, Chinese medical authorities said the drug was tested effectively in treating the new strains of influenza.

BEXIMCO Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Beacon Pharmaceuticals Limited have been readied to create the favipiravir drug, also known as Avigan, following the Japanese formula.

Japanese Fujifilm’s sister concern Toyama Chemical developed the drug to treat influenza-related disease in 2014.

Japan has not approved the medicine yet as they are still examining the effects of the drug.

Asked about the matter, Beacon’s managing director Md Ebadul Karim said, “We’ve made the favipiravir and sent it to Bangladesh’s drug administration for test. If it is effective, commercial production is possible.”

“The Japan’s Fuji invented the medicine to treat Ebola virus. China got positive results after using the medicine. We have brought active pharmaceutical ingredients from China,” he added.

“We’ve produced all medicines except Remdesivir with a view to prove the medicine to the government once it has been attained approval,” he added.

“We’re exporting raw materials of Ivermectin. It’ll also be produced.”

The companies also said these medicines have been produced as per the permission from the drug administration.

Apart from the Beacon and BEXIMCO, two more pharmaceuticals have also got permission to produce the drugs.

Ziska Pharmaceuticals Ltd is one of them. Its managing director Aminul Islam Khan said, “If necessary, we’ll produce the medicines.”