Remdesivir: US buys world stock of key coronavirus drug
Trump administration goes on shopping spree leaving ‘nothing for Europe’
The US has bought the global stock of the key coronavirus drug remdesivir, leaving none for the UK, Europe or most of the rest of the world.
Remdesivir is the first drug approved by licensing authorities in the US to treat Covid-19, and one of just two drugs worldwide proven to combat the virus.
The Trump administration has bought more than 500,000 doses, which is all of the production of remdesivir for July and 90% of August and September, reports The Guardian.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“President Trump has struck an amazing deal to ensure Americans have access to the first authorised therapeutic for Covid-19,” said the US health and human services secretary, Alex Azar.
“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.”
The drug is under patent to Gilead, which means no other company countries can make it - and that means the US has a monopoly on the treatment.
“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.
How does it work?
US officials say there is “clear-cut” evidence that remdesivir can cut the duration of symptoms, after clinical trials in hospitals around the world found it reduced it from 15 days down to 11.
Analysts say the drug could “have the potential to save lives, ease pressure on hospitals and allow parts of lockdown to be lifted” and the New York Times says US Food and Drug Administration already has plans to announce an emergency-use authorisation for remdesivir.
The drug is an antiviral and works by attacking an enzyme that a virus needs in order to replicate inside human cells. It was originally developed as a treatment for Ebola.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Dr Anthony Fauci who runs the NIAID said: “The data shows remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery.”
He claimed the results prove “a drug can block this virus” and were “opening the door to the fact that we now have the capability of treating” patients.
However, Professor Babak Javid, a consultant in infectious diseases at Cambridge University Hospitals, said remdesivir “is not a magic bullet”.
Professor Mahesh Parmar, who has run the trial in Europe, also urged caution. He said: “Before this drug can be made more widely available, a number of things need to happen: the data and results need to be reviewed by the regulators to assess whether the drug can be licensed and then they need assessment by the relevant health authorities in various countries.
“While this is happening we will obtain more and longer term data from this trial, and other ones, on whether the drug also prevents deaths from Covid-19.”
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organisation’s technical lead for the coronavirus response, told CNN: “Typically, you don't have one study that will come out that will be a game changer.”
A report in the Lancet says a trial of the same drug in China found it was ineffective. However, the China trial was incomplete because the success of lockdown in Wuhan meant doctors ran out of patients.
The BBC says there are several unanswered questions over the drug: “Is it allowing people who would have recovered anyway to do so more quickly? Or is it preventing people from needing treatment in intensive care?Did the drug work better in younger or older people? Or those with or without other diseases? Do patients have to be treated early when the virus is thought to peak in the body?”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How GOP election denial thrives in 2024
In the Spotlight Cleta Mitchell aided Donald Trump's efforts in 2020. She's back.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
'Shale is crucial to the US economy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Donald Trump sees himself as 'protector' of Israel
The Explainer What does that mean for the war in Gaza?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published