Incepta Pharmaceuticals has boosted its production of Reconil – a medication in the hydroxychloroquine category – that is being used to treat mild Covid-19 patients in some countries.

The local drug maker in a statement on Monday said they have increased production as per instructions of the Directorate General of Drug Administration.

"The directorate has asked us to manufacture this medicine and keep it in stock," Incepta said.

Although there are two pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh that make this medicine, Incepta claims that its product has been widely used in the country for over 15 years.

The company said the Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has published a national guideline for clinical management as preparation and a plan of response to control the outbreak of Covid-19.

The guideline mentioned the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients in specific situations.

It said various global drug regulatory agencies are advocating this medicine as a treatment for this deadly disease.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorisation for using this drug in coronavirus treatment. China and France are also using the drug to treat Covid-19 patients.

The Indian Medical Association has not only approved this medicine to be used as treatment, but also as a preventive treatment for Covid-19. They have authorised the prophylactic use of hydroxychloroquine for asymptomatic healthcare professionals as well as asymptomatic individuals who have come in contact with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus patients, Incepta claims.

Keeping in mind the country's future course of action against the coronavirus, Incepta has delivered 30 lakh tablets to the Central Medical Store Depot of the government and donated 3 lakh tablets to the drug administration directorate.

Reconil has been approved by the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Incepta has been successfully exporting Reconil to the UK for many years. 

In addition to this, Incepta will soon launch Favipiravir and a Ritonavir-Lopinavir combination drug, and is also trying to launch Remidesivir and other drugs that are being considered as potential treatment options for Covid-19 by many global experts.