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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: 0, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 05 2020, @11:11PM (7 children)
Please remind me about all the other times anyone has helped the USA?
And then maybe someone else with a brain can total up how much USA has saved the world, certainly 1/2 of Europe's asses in WW1, and maybe everyone in WW2.
It's so hip and kewl to bash the USA. I regret the $ we spend helping the rest of the world.
(Score: 3, Informative) by c0lo on Sunday July 05 2020, @11:32PM (2 children)
I'm sure France is entitled [wikipedia.org] to think the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Monday July 06 2020, @03:33PM (1 child)
France did help the US decisively in the Revolution. The US has since repaid that debt several times over: WWI, WWII, and Vietnam. Many more Americans have lost their lives in defense of France than vice versa.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 06 2020, @03:56PM
Not because of a sense of obligation, the same way France wasn't exactly idealist when helping the American revolution.
And that's actually my whole point: whinging about money spent on wars that just happened to benefit some other "ungrateful" countries is hypocritical. America entered those wars based on self-interest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday July 06 2020, @12:31AM (3 children)
Gee, it's almost like you think history started in 1945 and ended in 1990...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2020, @02:05AM
Everyone on talk radio knows it started in 1776.
The American founders (who were American by definition) invented democracy based on an executive branch, law making branch and judiciary. Completely different from the British Parliament, Her Majesty's govt and the Supreme Court, and the traditions of Western civilization going back 2-3000 years.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2020, @06:44AM (1 child)
So what? So USA has to give and give for 244 years? What's your measure, royal highness? Are you a US citizen? I hope not. The US doesn't need more self-loathers.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2020, @07:59AM
Hhaha maroon
We haven't been giving, we have been looting the world and paying off enough to keep the world from turning on us. Yet tightwad dipshits like Trump are so selfish they'll stop the bits of good will to save a buck. Sad how this country is being destroyed by greed, incompetence, and stupidity.