Fears for UK coronavirus patients as the US buys almost the ENTIRE world stock of remdesivir – one of only two drugs approved for NHS use – and threatens to do the same with any vaccine
The US has bought almost the entire global supply of one of only two drugs proven to be effective against
coronavirus.
The drug, made by American pharmaceutical firm Gilead, was initially developed as a failed Ebola treatment but studies have now shown it speeds up recovery from coronavirus.
However, patients in the UK and Europe are unlikely to get access to it until the autumn after the US government bought more than 500,000 doses, according to the
Guardian.
This makes up the entire global supply for July and 90 per cent of stocks for August and September.
'This deal that's been struck by America means that people with Covid-19 in the UK can't get access to these treatments that would get them out of hospital quickly and might improve their chances of survival,' Dr Andrew Hill of Liverpool University told
Sky News.
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The US government has come under fire for its tactics in the global marketplace for coronavirus treatments.
It has shown a willingness to outbid other countries and keep supplies for itself rather than cooperating with them.
French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi announced in May that the US would get its coronavirus vaccine first if it works but later changed its mind under pressure from the French government.
Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, has warned: 'We know it is in both of our interests to work collaboratively and cooperatively to keep our citizens safe.'
Another option for the British government would be to use a 'compulsory license' which is a legal tool that would allow the Gilead's patents for the drug to be ignored.
Generic versions of the drug could them be bought from countries such as India which do not recognise the patent.
However, the UK does not like to do this as it would irritate the domestic pharmaceutical industry which claims 20 year copyrights are needed to make back the cash invested in developing new treatments.
