Gilead Works to Expand International Access to Remdesivir

Gilead is building a consortium of manufacturing partners to expand global access to remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The company is in talks with leading chemical and drug manufacturers to assess their capabilities to produce the antiviral medication for Europe, Asia and elsewhere through at least 2022.

Gilead is also working on building up a sufficient supply for developing countries. It is negotiating long-term deals with several generic firms in India and Pakistan and is in talks with the Medicines Patent Pool to license the drug in poorer nations.

Gilead is also communicating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to facilitate access to the medicine in low- and middle-income countries.

 “Close coordination of remdesivir manufacturing will be critical,” the company said, noting that manufacturing remdesivir requires special capabilities and scarce raw materials that take a long time to produce.

The FDA granted remdesivir an Emergency Use Authorization last week for use in the U.S., based on positive results from at least two trials (DID, April 30). — James Miessler