Export of COVID-19 treatment drug remdesivir banned by India

India has banned the export of remdesivir as infections soared to a new daily high and hospitals grappled with increasing demand for the coronavirus treatment drug, AFP reported.

India has experienced a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks, adding 152,000 new cases on Sunday to take the toll to 13.3 million infections.

The Health Ministry said the surge in cases has led to a “sudden spike in demand” for the antiviral drug.

“There is a potential of further increase in this demand in the coming days,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the export ban would be in place “till the situation improves.”

Remdesivir, made by US pharma giant Gilead, was one of the first drugs to show relative promise in shortening the recovery time for some COVID-19 patients.

But a World Health Organisation-backed study has said that the drug had “little or no effect” on COVID-19 mortality.