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US Secures World Stock of Key Covid-19 Drug Remdesivir
US Secures World Stock of Key Covid-19 Drug Remdesivir:
No other country will be able to buy remdesivir, which can help recovery from Covid-19, for next three months at least
The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for the next three months of one of the two drugs proven to work against Covid-19, leaving none for the UK, Europe or most of the rest of the world.
Experts and campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown that it is prepared to outbid and outmanoeuvre all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.
“They’ve got access to most of the drug supply [of remdesivir], so there’s nothing for Europe,” said Dr Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University.
Remdesivir, the first drug approved by licensing authorities in the US to treat Covid-19, is made by Gilead and has been shown to help people recover faster from the disease. The first 140,000 doses, supplied to drug trials around the world, have been used up. The Trump administration has now bought more than 500,000 doses, which is all of Gilead’s production for July and 90% of August and September.
US to buy 500,000 Remdesivir Coronavirus Treatment Courses at $2,340 Each
US to buy 500,000 remdesivir coronavirus treatment courses at $2,340 each:
The US Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to buy 500,000 remdesivir treatment courses, in the wake of clinical trials revealing the drug can help patients recover more quickly from the coronavirus. A five-day course will cost $2,340,or $3,120 for commercially insured patients, biotech firm Gilead Sciences said.
Early last month, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for remdesivir to be used in cases of COVID-19 when patients were "hospitalized with severe disease," shortly after the drug showed "clear-cut positive effect" in a US trial.
[...] "To the extent possible, we want to ensure that any American patient who needs remdesivir can get it," HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a release.
[...] Gilead CEO Daniel O'Day addressed the higher price for private insurers, according to health site Stat, by noting that there are "always two prices" for a drug in the US. In an open letter, he acknowledged that the company's work on remdesivir is "far from done."
[...] He also said that countries in the developing world will get the drug at greatly reduced prices, through generic manufacturers.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by c0lo on Sunday July 05 2020, @10:45PM (5 children)
LOL. Europe and China solved the problem [theguardian.com] by other means.
Really, do you think any of the 500,000 courses at $2,340 each is gonna trickle-down on you if you'll be unfortunate enough to need it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2020, @12:30AM (4 children)
By lying? Do you for 1 second think China's numbers are reality? Or do you just want Trump to look bad? If it is the later maybe you should spend some time self reflecting who you are and what you really stand for.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2020, @01:06AM
Gee, AC, did you even follow the link in the comment? The title is "Germany and France reopen borders as Europe emerges from lockdown".
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2020, @06:06AM (1 child)
Not a matter of "want", just a matter of does! Trump has screwed the US over to the tune of 130,000 dead. 9/11 was only 3,000. Pearl Harbor, 2,403 Americans. Trump has overseen the death of more Americans than any President outside of World, or Civil, Wars. He just doesn't "look" bad, he is bad, very, very, bad. Death to the Republican party, for having foisted this imbecile upon the American people!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 08 2020, @06:10AM
"has screwed the US over to the tune of 130,000 dead"
so far, the political choices will result in real world fallout that is not even close to being done
(Score: 1) by Opportunist on Monday July 06 2020, @10:34AM
I can see for myself that Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia and a few more central European countries didn't have to fudge the numbers. They're through the mess. Yes, infections are slightly rising again in those countries that lifted the siege but we're talking about going from 500 infected to 800, not 500,000 to 800,000, and the cases are known and contained.
The US is up to its neck still inside the crap. Don't kid yourself just because infection levels are not rising anymore, that's a bit like saying you're fine because the flood ain't rising anymore but the water is still up to your roof.