Europe’s Remdesivir Shortage Prompts Gilead Supply Deal

The European Commission has inked a supply deal with Gilead Sciences for 500,000 courses of the company’s antiviral drug remdesivir to shore up Europe’s depleting stocks of the COVID-19 treatment.

Under the agreement, 37 European countries will gain access to the drug, including the 27 EU member states, the United Kingdom, six Balkan nations and European Economic Area countries.

Amid concerns of soaring infections and with winter approaching, the Foster City, Calif., drugmaker says it plans to manufacture more than 2 million courses of the drug by the end of this year. 

Earlier this week, Gilead announced the resumption of direct distribution to U.S. hospitals, after HHS determined the federal government no longer needed to control the process (DID, Oct. 5). — Jason Scott