Beximco Pharma has supplied Bemsivir, the generic version of Remdesivir drug produced by the company, for a critically ill coronavirus patient in Nigeria. 

A Nigerian chartered aircraft landed today around 4.30pm at the Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka and departed at 6.00pm with the medicine, read a press release issued by the pharmaceutical company.

Earlier, on June 4, the Nigerian Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control wrote to Beximco requesting for 11 vials of Bemsivir for a patient being treated under Dr Yemi Johnson, at First Cardiology Consultants Hospital at Ikoyi in the African country. 

Beximco Pharma agreed to provide the medicine on humanitarian grounds.

Subsequently, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs called Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the landing approval for a Nigerian chartered aircraft, which would take the medicine back to Nigeria.

 As such, Bangladesh's Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has issued a NOC letter for sending the drug on humanitarian considerations.

Earlier, on May 31, Beximco Pharma supplied 48 vials of Bemsivir to Pakistan for three critically ill patients, having been requested officially, through an emergency cargo flight.