Azad Kashmir beset with 12 new corona cases

MIRPUR: With the emergence of 12 new cases of novel coronavirus in Azad Jammu and Kashmir during last 24 hours.

At the same time, the blood samples of new 161 suspected cases were tested across AJK on Friday.

In an official statement on the updated situation of pandemic, the AJK health authorities said 10 belong to Muzaffarabad and two from Mirpur.

According to the report, a total of 3,572 suspected cases were sent for test, of whom the result of 3,510 had been received with 107 positive cases.

Out of the total of 107 positive cases, 76 have been fully recovered and discharged from different health facilities across the state.

The rest of the patients who tested positive are receiving treatment in various approvals are obtained, and the manufacturer is confident that it will produce sufficient quantities over time to serve the needs of the patients in Pakistan and abroad.”

According to Dr Mirza, only two countries, including Pakistan, have been allowed to manufacture this medicine. On May 12, Pakistani manufacturer BF Biosciences Limited, a subsidiary of Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, successfully concluded its voluntary licencing agreement with Gilead Sciences for the manufacture and sale of Remdesivir under Gilead’s Global Patient Solutions Programme to supply the product to affected developing countries. Gilead has signed non-exclusive voluntary licence agreements with five South Asian manufacturers, including BF Biosciences Limited from Pakistan.

Under the agreements, the companies have a right to receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process for Remdesivir to enable them to ensure product quality and to scale up production quickly.

The licences are royalty free until the World Health Organisation declares the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding Covid-19 or until a pharmaceutical product other than Remdesivir or a vaccine is approved to treat or prevent Covid-19 whichever is earlier.

Dr Mirza pointed out it was for the first time that a manufacturer from Pakistan had been included in a global supply solution of this nature.