India bans exports of anti-viral drug Remdesivir as COVID-19 cases surge

People queue outside the Chemists Association office for Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, in Pune on April 9, 2021 as India surged past 13 million coronavirus cases. (AFP)

• Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences

NEW DELHI: India said on Sunday it had banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients after a record spike in COVID-19 cases sent demand surging.
“In light of the above, Government of India has prohibited the exports of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) till the situation improves,” the health ministry said in a statement.
Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences, with an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month.