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As the spectre of a virus looms large the world over, Japanese film giant Fuji films has developed an anti-viral drug Favipiravir. It was for the first time put into trial in coronavirus-infected China, where doctors claimed its effectiveness in stemming the tide of the pandemic ravaging the world's most populous country sometime in late March. It came after the scientists in Seattle, USA also reported developing a new drug to fight the disease and others across the world laboratories were working hard to develop more drugs like the way Alexander Fleming on a war footing successfully discovered Penicillin to save lives from infections during the World War-I over a century ago.
Three local pharmaceuticals have started manufacturing the drug in this country. Now the question is, why cannot we go and support efforts like Dr Fleming on a war footing as many of our doctors and scientists have earned respects across the world for their dedication and capabilities.
Meanwhile, some local firms reported with positive results as media reports said. But insiders reported that the drug would not be easily available for its high price unless mass production begins. The process involves very costly imported raw materials and licence fees.
Another news item also brought some hopes about capabilities of our scientists, who reported development of a cheap but reliable Covid-19 testing kit that costs a lot to import. But the Ganosasthya Kendra, developer of the local variety, said that their kit would cost much less than the imported ones.
It is now up to our doctors and hospitals to put them into trial. To avail it easily some hospitals were provided samples of the drug free of cost by one company Beacon, the MD of which told a TV news channel on Saturday. The two other companies are SK&F and Beximco Pharma.
Against such a background it generates renewed hope that our scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs would be allowed to go ahead with newer research and support for development of further drugs and testing kits to cut their costs. Three drug companies, Beacon, Ziska and BEXIMCO which reported to the Drug Administration the development of the Japanese viral-resistant drug have the resources to provide incentives to their R&D team. At least one of them, BEXIMCO Pharmaceuticals and others have already earned credibility both at home and abroad about their pharmaceutical products, opening up new frontiers for other industries to further add more items to the nation's export basket, beleaguered by the impact of the Covid -19. There is another example put into practice by our next-door neighbour India in its western Rajasthan state by monitoring people with a smart phone app.