(Yicai Global) March 25 -- American biotech firm Gilead Sciences may make Remdesivir, an experimental Covid-19 drug, using original equipment manufacturers in China if the treatment passes clinical trials, according to China Securities Journal.

Gilead is not considering authorizing other companies to use the patent at the moment, CSJ reported without disclosing a source, saying the firm may provide active ingredients and process instructions to Chinese partners who would then make the medicine.

Remdesivir is undergoing third-phase clinical trials in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak, and expects to complete the trials by the end of April. China's National Medical Products Administration has already approved the drug for trials in a number of hospitals, covering 761 patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study on the medicine's efficacy in treating Covid-19.

Several Chinese pharma firms have been optimistic about securing the rights to use Remdesivir from Gilead, while two companies, BrightGene and Hainan Haiyao, claimed last month that they were able to replicate the drug. China's stock market regulator criticized both for making false claims.

Editor: James Boynton