PIL in SC for CBI probe for using two antiviral medicines as treatment to COVID-19 patients

A plea filed in Supreme Court has sought registration of an FIR by CBI against ten Indian pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and selling Remdesivir and Favipiravir allegedly as medicines that treat COVID-19 patients without valid licences.

Remdesivir and Favipiravir are antiviral drugs and ir efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients have been a matter of debate among medical experts.

Lawyer M L Sharma has filed a PIL in apex court, alleging medicines are being manufactured and sold for treating COVID-19 patients without valid licences from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.

"That respondents...are Indian pharmaceutical companies who have signed partnership agreements with foreign companies, that are Gilead Science Inc-USA and Fujifilm-Japan, to manufacture and sale impugned drugs, Remdesivir and Avagin (Favipiravir), in India. Without having a licence, y are manufacturing and selling impugned drugs as medicine for corona in India," PIL alleged.

Seeking a direction to CBI, Sharma has sought prosecution of Indian companies for cheating and criminal conspiracy besides under provisions of Drug Act, 1940.

PIL, which may come up for hearing in a few days, said that se medicines have t been certified as medicines for COVID-19 till date by any country.

"y are under trial and country, including India, has issued a licence to manufacture and sell m in country," it said.

companies are manufacturing and selling m at very high rates in India and people are paying that "due to fear of COVID-19 infection" and are dying, it said, claiming more than 300 doctors have died in hospitals where se two medicines have been supplied and it amounted to "exploitation of public" due to fear of death.

Remdesivir was introduced by Gilead Science Inc USA to treat Ebola Virus in Africa but it was found to be t effective, it said. Favipiravir was developed by Fujifilm Toyama Chemical and was approved to treat Influenza.

PIL has made Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation parties to matter.

It has also made 10 pharmaceutical companies, including Cipla Ltd, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Hetero Labs Ltd and Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd, parties.

Stressing that a completely effective treatment for COVID-19 is yet to be found, plea said, " prime minister has already initiated a process with Russia to import COVID-19 vaccine to manufacture/distribute in India through PSU Bharat Immulogicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL)." 

(Photo: PTI)