Ferozsons pharma dismisses connection with unlicensed COVID-19 treatment

Pakistani pharmaceutical company, Ferozsons Laboratories has clarified that it is not associated with an unlicensed treatment for COVID-19, which is reportedly being imported from Bangladesh.

“A message is circulating on WhatsApp and social media, purportedly confirming the launch of an unlicensed treatment for COVID-19 imported from Bangladesh. The message quotes a price of Rs. 20,000 per injection, and promotes a 10-day COVID-19 treatment course at a package cost of Rs. 220,000,” Ferozsons said in a statement.

The company said that certain versions of this message also appear to link the name of Ferozsons Laboratories Limited with the launch. “We would like to clarify to the public at large that Ferozsons has no connection with the launch of the treatment being imported from Bangladesh and marketed in Pakistan.”

The pharma added that no product can be launched or promoted in Pakistan prior to regulatory approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

Last month, Ferozsons Laboratories inked an agreement with Gilead Science Inc for the manufacture and sale of Remdesivir in the country. Remdesivir is a proprietary product of Gilead Sciences Inc., USA was granted Emergency Use Authorisation by the United States FDA on May 1, 2020.

“As a licensee of Gilead Sciences, Ferozsons, through its subsidiary BF Biosciences Limited, is committed to urgently making available a licensed product manufactured under a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process for remdesivir, and to ethical communication at all times,” said the company.