Gilead to Donate More Than 1 Million Remdesivir Doses

Gilead announced that it has 1.5 million individual doses of its antiviral remdesivir available for use as a COVID-19 treatment and will donate the doses when they’re needed.

There is increased focus on the drug after reports this week of positive benefits for COVID-19 patients in several trials. The FDA declined to confirm reports this week that it plans to grant the drug an Emergency Use Authorization but said it has been in “sustained and ongoing discussions” with the company to make remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible.

Gilead’s current supply of 1.5 million doses of the drug amounts to 140,000 treatment courses if administered on a 10-day regimen but could serve more patients if a 5-day treatment schedule proves viable for COVID-19 patients (DID, April 30).

Recent data from Gilead’s clinical trial of the drug showed that the 5-day schedule appeared to shorten recovery times and have similar effectiveness to the 10-day course.

Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day said the company is forming a global consortium of drug and chemical makers to expand worldwide production of the drug.

“It will be essential for countries to work together to create enough supply for people all over the world and we look forward to these collaborative efforts,” he said in an open letter. — James Miessler