Gilead Raises Amount of Remdesivir Donated to U.S.

Gilead Sciences has ramped up the number of remdesivir vials it’s donating to the U.S. government to approximately 940,000 from 607,000, HHS said this week, even as the drugmaker has decided to end two trials it’s conducting on the antiviral.

HHS did not explain the increased number in a letter to governors, and Gilead has declined comment on the increase or why it’s ending the remdesivir trials.

According to the letter, HHS plans to deliver 211,000 vials this week for distribution in the most at-need hospitals. State health departments will make the final decision on which hospitals receive the drug.

Gilead is ending two remdesivir trials by the end of the month, according to Tufts Medical Center, which is participating in the studies. There are four other remdesivir trials going on across the globe.

Gilead recently hashed out non-exclusive licensing agreements with five generic manufacturers — Cipla, Ferozsons Laboratories, Hetero Labs, Jubilant Lifesciences and Mylan —  to supply the antiviral drug to lower-income nations  (DID, May 13).

Read the HHS letter here: www.fdanews.com/05-19-20-Remdesivir.pdf. — James Miessler