Bangladesh's pharmaceutical giant Beximco Pharma introduced the world's first generic version of the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir. Remdesivir was authorised by the US for emergency use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the multinational Gilead Science Inc "emergency use authorisation" clearing the way for the broader use of the drug. "We are pleased to be the first generic company in the world to introduce this very important drug for treating the hospitalised COVID-19 patients," Beximco Pharma's managing director Nazmul Hassan Papon announced. The company has branded the medicine as "Bemsivir". He handed over the first batch of medicine to Health Minister Zahed Maleque to mark the drug's introduction, saying the firm will provide Bemsivir free of cost to all the severely ill patients of government hospitals which provide free treatment. Beximco said it could produce generic vers