IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – Local pharmaceutical company PT Kalbe Farma joining hands with India’s PT Amarox Pharma Global launched an antiviral drug Remdesivir named Covifor as COVID-19 treatment in Indonesia.
Kalbe Farma recently dropped the price from Rp3 million per vial to Rp1.5 million per vial. “We agree to provide a special selling price for the Covifor drug,” said Kalbe Farma CEO Vidjongtius in a statement in Jakarta, Saturday, October 3, 2020.
Here is the list of ten facts about the drug that Tempo has gathered thus far:
- Collaboration with Amarox
PT Amarox Pharma Global is a subsidiary of Hetero, one of India’s leading generic pharmaceutical companies and the world’s largest producer of antiretroviral drugs.
Covifor is manufactured at Hetero’s modern facility in Hyderabad, India, and has met the standards approved by the strict global regulatory authorities.
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval
Kalbe claimed that Amarox was the first company to receive a distribution license under the EUA scheme for Remdesivir granted by the Indonesian Food and Drug Agency (BPOM) after.
- Not for public sale
Covifor is only permitted for the use in COVID-19 patients confirmed in the laboratory. It is mainly for adults or adolescents (aged 12 years and over with a minimum body weight of 40 kg) who are hospitalized. The drug is not sold in public but rather in hospitals with a doctor’s prescription and supervision.
- Approved by three Countries
Anwar Santoso, a member of the BPOM’s Committee for Drug Evaluation, said they had conducted a critical review of the drug based on the results of clinical trials held around the world.
The drug was found to have good clinical effects for patients with severe symptoms. Its use has also been approved by the United States, Japan, and Australia. “There is no reason to reject (the distribution permit),” Anwar added.
- Gilead Sciences Inc.
In its press release, Kalbe reported that in May 2020, a United States’ biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. extended the voluntary non-exclusive license to Hetero in order to produce and distribute Remdesivir to 127 countries, including Indonesia.
- 800,000 doses
In India, Hetero was the first company that launched the generic version of Remdesivir. About 800,000 doses have been supplied to more than 100,000 patients in several countries.
In addition, the company has delivered the drug to Asia, Africa, and several Latin American countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as noted in the licensing agreement with Gilead.
- Changes in COVID-19 treatment
Kalbe claimed that Covifor had changed the map of treatment against COVID-19 given its positive clinical results, safety, and a good effect in patients.
- Lower Prices
Kalbe lowered the price to Rp1.5 million per vial following inputs from the government, healthcare professionals, and patients in recent days, as well as due to the growing need for COVID-19 treatment.
- Indofarma launches a similar drug
Another local pharmaceutical firm PT Indofarma also launched the same drug named DESREM that was manufactured by India’s Mylan Laboratories Limited and was priced at Rp2 million per dose.
- U.S. President Donald Trump Uses the drug
U.S. President Donald Trump who was confirmed positive for COVID-19 was asked to take Remdesivir. In the statement, Kalbe Farma mentioned that Covifor has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union authorities.
Read also: COVID-19 Mortality Rate in Jakarta Stands at 2.3 Percent
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