In an open letter to California biotech CEO Daniel O'Day, several NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), urged Gilead to "ensure rapid availability, affordability, and accessibility of its experimental treatment remdesivir to treat the Covid-19 ".
“Gilead has primary patents for remdesivir in more than 70 countries, which could block the arrival of generics until 2031 (…). Gilead asked the American Medicines Agency to classify remdesivir as an orphan drug in order to strengthen its exclusive rights, "denounced the NGOs, accusing the group of having renounced this process" only under pressure from critics public at the end of March ".
Last phase of clinical trials
In an open letter posted this Saturday on the company's website, Daniel O'Day assured that, if approved, Gilead "would strive to provide affordable access to remdesivir for patients who take it would need it most. " Remdesivir is already in the last phase of clinical trials in Asia and China. Doctors have reported that it is effective in fighting the disease. However, only randomized clinical trials allow scientists to know for sure if the treatment works.
“There is currently only one drug which we believe could be very effective. And it's the remdesivir, "said Bruce Aylward, a World Health Organization (WHO) official in mid-March. According to Bank of America analysts quoted in the American press, Gilead could pocket up to $ 2.5 billion thanks to its antiviral.
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