South African pharmaceutical company Aspen could deliver 10
million dexamethasone tablets within a month, chief executive Stephen Saad told
Reuters on Tuesday.
Test results showed that dexamethasone reduced the death
rate by about a third compared to placebo in hospitalized patients seriously
ill with COVID-19, scientists from Oxford University said last week, claiming
the discovery was an important advance.
"Aspen has seen short-term needs and can deliver 10
million tablets in the next three to four weeks. We could see the option to
further increase production if there is an additional need for products,
"Saad said without indicating current production volumes.
South Africa's largest drug producer, with a 22% market
share in sub-Saharan Africa, produces the injectable and tablet forms of
dexamethasone, which is used primarily for the treatment of tumors, asthma and
other respiratory diseases.
The South African government has contacted Aspen to be the
supplier of the drug not only for the local market, but also for the rest of
the continent, the company said Monday.
The company asked the government to indicate the required
levels on the continent, Saad said. "Once they give us an idea, we can
work on the supplies," he added.
South Africa's health ministry said Friday that the
government has an inventory of 300,000 ampoules of dexamethasone and could
source supplies from local suppliers. REUTERS/TRAVELCHANNEL
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