The U.S. Department of Health Services has bought for itself nearly the entire next three-month supply of Coronavirus breakthrough drug remdesivir, leaving the rest of the world with no supply for the next three months.
Trump’s administration has ordered the next 500,000 doses of the anti-viral drug, Remdesvir, from manufacturer Gilead, a figure that represents the total production of Gilead for July, and 90 per cent of all the medication that the company will make in August and September.
At first, 140,000 doses of the drug was delivered to countries all over the world for trials and it was during this time the drug’s success rate in treating patients was discovered.
The company first created it as an Ebola treatment, but with its success in the treatment of covid-19 patients, the company now plans to charge $3,200 for six doses for American patients.
White House immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci in April said remdesivir can not cure or prevent Covid-19, but hospitalized patients given the drug were found to recover 31% faster than those who weren’t given the drug.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, applauded the purchase of the drug by the US saying:
‘President Trump has struck an amazing deal to ensure Americans have access to the first authorized therapeutic for Covid-19.
‘To the extent possible, we want to ensure that any American patient who needs remdesivir can get it. The Trump administration is doing everything in our power to learn more about life-saving therapeutics for Covid-19 and secure access to these options for the American people.’
UK doctor and scientist, Dr Andrew Hill from the University of Liverpool reacting to the US’ hoarding of the drug told The Guardian: ‘They’ve got access to most of the drug supply (of remdesivir), so there’s nothing for Europe.’
“Remdesivir is under Gilead’s patent, meaning no other drug company can manufacture its own supplies.”
