Iran Claims It’s Using a Remdesivir Generic to Fight Covid-19

Iran says it has started distributing its generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc.’s remdesivir antiviral drug to aid the country’s fight against Covid-19.

The Food and Drug Organization of Iran said last week that an “Iranian remdesivir” had been sent to university hospitals and specialist clinics, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported, citing the organization’s chief, Mohammadreza Shanehsaz. There are no plans to sell the drug commercially for now, it said.

Iran’s ability to tackle the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East has been hampered by both U.S. sanctions and poor enforcement of social distancing rules and mask-wearing ...