Gilead’s remdesivir to cost $2,340 for five-day treatment

WASHINGTON: Gilead Sciences said it will charge the US government and other developed countries $390 per vial for its coronavirusfighting drug remdesivir, or about $2,340 for a typical five-day course of treatment.

Gilead said in a statement on Monday it would offer this price to developed countries around the world, in order to create a oneprice model that would avoid the need for country-by-country negotiations that could slow down access. “We wanted to make sure that nothing gets in the way of remdesivir getting to patients,” Gilead chief executive officer Daniel O’day said.

The $390 per vial price is for government entities. Once supply is less tight and Gilead starts selling the drug in normal distribution channels, the list price for private insurance companies and other commercial payers in the US will be $520 a vial, or $3,120 for a five-day course.

Remdesivir is one of the first widely used drugs for Covid-19. It received an emergency authorisation from US regulators in May.