510 doses of Remdesivir withdrawn over side effects

NAVI MUMBAI: A batch of 510 Remdesivir doses sent to Raigad district have been withdrawn by the state government following side effects to 90 Covid patients who were administered it.

The State FDA minister, Rajendra Shingane, has ordered tests on the batch and assured that this was the only instance of side effects reported in the State. Raigad collector Nidhi Choudhary has asked the drug to be used judiciously as Raigad could now face shortage.

The Remedesivir brand Covifor

batch had been received by Raigad district on April 28 and later distributed to various hospitals including in Panvel taluka.

Chaudhary said, “Of the 130 patients it was administered to in the Panvel taluka area, 90 reported side effects like chills, shivering, low blood pressure and oxygen saturation. We immediately informed the State government and instructions were given by us and the FDA that the batch of 510 vials should not be used by any of the hospitals. The stock has now been withdrawn from the hospitals.”

Shingane confirmed, “There were side effects like fever and chills reported after a particular batch of the Hetero Drug Company Remdesivir doses were administered in two-three hospitals of Raigad area. We have withdrawn the entire batch and sent it for testing.”

Shingane said there was no need for panic, adding, “It seems to be an issue with only one batch. We are investigating and the test results will be out soon.”

Meanwhile, with Raigad losing a substantial stock of the drug, Chaudhary has appealed to the patients and relatives that the Maharashtra Task Force has said that this was not a life-saving drug.