US buys up world stock of key Covid-19 drug remdesivir

[mysteryowl]

The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for the next three months of one of the two drugs proven to work against Covid-19, leaving none for the UK, Europe or most of the rest of the world.

Experts and campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown that it is prepared to outbid and outmanoeuvre all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.

“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.

Remdesivir, the first drug approved by licensing authorities in the US to treat Covid-19, is made by Gilead and has been shown to help people recover faster from the disease. The first 140,000 doses, supplied to drug trials around the world, have been used up. The Trump administration has now bought more than 500,000 doses, which is all of Gilead’s production for July and 90% of August and September.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/30/us-buys-up-world-stock-of-key-covid-19-drug

[Sinistrous]

1. This is so cravenly despicable it reeks even worse than an MF45 stunt.

It must have oozed from the groin of Kushner.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Trump's consolation prize

Perhaps he isn't so worried about losing because he and Jared seem to be rigging the greatest scam ever as their retirement plan.

[secondwind]

3. Jared must be jumping for joy....

[Frustratedlady]

4. At a cost of what? I kind of recall reading an article about Gilead, recently, that showed some...

pretty ridiculous charges, but I can't remember the details. That may have also stated that the Feds paid the $70M development fee and still got charged ridiculous rates.

So many articles, so many issues, so little active brain retention.

[ecstatic]

5. We're being "led" off the cliff by a criminal

The virus is completely unchecked in our country, but no worries, our idiot in chief just hoarded the world's supply of remdesivir (a drug which, based on the studies I've read, is only marginally effective).

This latest bit of news shouldn't surprise anyone: trump is an ignorant, amoral, incompetent, sociopathic criminal. If you were to read this article to him, he would be brimming with pride. He and many of his fellow rethug governors are simply too stupid to lead during a disaster like this.