Trump buys all stocks of virus drug
MEDICS and politicians reacted with fury after it emerged America has bought up virtually all stocks of a drug proven to help fight Covid-19 for at least the next three months.
UK Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi accused US President Donald Trump of “undermining” the global fight against the virus in his deal for remdesivir.
And in another swipe, he added: “It’s much better to work together.”
The Trump administration has secured 500,000 doses – the entire global supply for July and 90 per cent of August and September’s.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock last month hailed remdesivir as the “biggest step forward” in treating Covid-19 patients.
Most people need six vials of the drug, originally designed to treat Ebola, at a cost of £1,900.
Dexamethasone, a common steroid that costs just £5 for a course, has also been proven to reduce the death rate among patients on ventilators. But remdesivir is said to help the most severely ill.
Dr Andrew Hill, a leading researcher at Liverpool University, said: “They [the Americans] have got access to most of the drug supply, so there’s nothing for Europe... Imagine that had been a vaccine, there would be a firestorm.”
The drug is only made by Californian-based Gilead, which holds the licence.
Despite the move, the Department of Health insisted it still had enough remdesivir, around 200,000 doses, for NHS patients.
US health chief Alex Azar, crowed: “President Trump has struck an amazing deal.”