Covid-19: Liquid form of remdesivir to smoothen supply, says industry

Shortage of key drug remdesivir, used to treat hospitalised Covid-19 patients, may ease as the liquid form of the medicine may make its way into the market soon. Makers here say that the innovator — Gilead — has come up with a liquid formulation that would be available in the market.
 
The liquid form may be easier and faster to manufacture. Currently, dry powder form of the drug is available and is converted to a solution. It is then injected into a patient. Multiple manufacturers confirmed that the liquid form of the injectable would shorten the manufacturing process and thus help ramp up supplies at a faster clip.
 
Said one manufacturer, “The manufacturing process for remdesivir is quite complex and it takes a minimum of 21 days to make the drug. Before one starts a batch, he has to make arrangements in the supply chain for the active ingredient, among others. So, it’s a minimum one month before a batch is ready for the market.”
 
He added, “Gilead has come up with a liquid form of remdesivir that would basically skip the process of lyophilisation and this can shorten the manufacturing process a bit. Moreover, there is only a limited capacity for lyophilisation in India.”
 
Lyophilisation or crydesication — or freeze drying as it is commonly known as — is a process of low temperature dehydration that involves freezing the product, lowering pressure and then removing ice by sublimation. This is in contrast to dehydration which involves evaporation of water by using heat.