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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: 1) by khallow on Sunday July 05 2020, @11:57PM (6 children)
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Monday July 06 2020, @12:16AM (2 children)
Doesn't matter who, as long as needs are met... if the stuff really works
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 06 2020, @02:04AM
Tough luck for those with a weak liver [theprint.in]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Monday July 06 2020, @03:48AM
Wellllll.....it works, for certain definitions of "works". It seems to shorten the average length of stay in the ICU. By an average of 4 days out of around 15. But the study that said that didn't say it decreased the death rate. And it didn't talk about after effects.
Welll....lets be a little caution here. I'm reading someone else's critique of the study, not the original study. The original study was pretty technical, and not about computers or programming. So I'd rather trust someone else's interpretation of it. But he wasn't particularly impressed. However after the study came out the company jacked up the prices considerably, so SOMEBODY was impressed. Perhaps he got word of this sales opportunity.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday July 06 2020, @12:22AM
If they really have the capability, I'd assume they're already hard at it - it's not like they're big IP law adherents in the first place.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 4, Informative) by c0lo on Monday July 06 2020, @01:23AM (1 child)
India is doing it [newindianexpress.com] - under license.
China started to do it in Feb [time.com], without license at the time. The licensing is unclear ATM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday July 06 2020, @03:40PM
China cares about licensing, when you are using their products. Otherwise, they don't care, so long as they don't get caught.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"