Jubilant Life Sciences launches remdesivir for injection

New Delhi, Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd on Monday announced that its subsidiary, Jubilant Generics, has launched remdesivir for injection, under the brand name ‘JUBI-R’, in the Indian market at a price of Rs 4,700 per vial of 100 mg.

The company said it will make the drug available to over 1,000 hospitals providing Covid-19 treatment in India through its distribution network.

In May this year, Jubilant entered into a non-exclusive Licensing Agreement with Gilead Sciences that granted it the right to register, manufacture and sell Gilead’s investigational drug remdesivir in 127 countries including India.

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that has received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) by the US FDA for treatment of suspected or laboratory confirmed Covid-19 in adults and children hospitalised with severe disease.

On July 20, Jubilant received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and market the investigational antiviral drug remdesivir (‘JUBI-R’) for 100 mg/vial (lyophilized injection) for restricted emergency use in India for the treatment of severe Covid-19.

“The company’s ability to launch this product in such short timelines highlights our R&D and manufacturing capabilities and our continued commitment to provide leading healthcare solutions,” Shyam Bhartia, Chairman & Managing Director and Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman, Jubilant Pharma Ltd, said in a statement.

“Through the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, we will distribute the drug on compassionate basis to save precious lives of people through unique programmes.”

‘JUBI-R’ will require to be administered intravenously in a hospital setting under the supervision of a medical practitioner.