Pharmaceuticals

Remarks by Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson provoked an uproar in France this week about access to a future COVID-19 vaccine.

French Drug Giant Sanofi Takes Heat After Suggesting U.S. May Get 1st Vaccine Access

3:48pm May 15, 2020

by Eleanor Beardsley

An uproar followed comments by Sanofi's CEO that if the company develops a vaccine, doses would likely go to Americans first. The board president later insisted, "Any vaccine will be a public good."

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Stoppers are placed on filled vials of the experimental drug remdesivir at a Gilead Sciences factory.

Health & Safety

Remdesivir Distribution Causes Confusion, Leaves Some Hospitals Empty-Handed

11:12am May 14, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Gilead Sciences is donating its initial supply of the experimental treatment for COVID-19. The federal government is deciding where the scarce medicine goes, and there are questions about the choices.

Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug made by Gilead Sciences, has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use in treating severely ill COVID-19 patients.

Health & Safety

Putting A Price On COVID-19 Treatment Remdesivir

11:01am May 08, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Gilead Sciences has committed to donating the initial supply of the experimental antiviral drug. But executives said the company will need to make expanded production of the treatment sustainable.

Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O'Day speaks at a meeting with President Trump and members of the White House coronavirus task force on March 2.

Gilead Lobbying Rose As Interest In COVID-19 Treatment Climbed

11:51am May 02, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of remdesivir for patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Drugmaker Gilead Sciences' lobbying hit a new high in the first quarter.

Only 28% of the factories that make active ingredients for pharmaceuticals for the domestic market are located in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Health & Safety

What Would It Take To Bring More Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Back To The U.S.?

1:13pm April 24, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Experts say it could be dangerous to rely on overseas production of medicine in a crisis, but the U.S. largely does. Rebuilding domestic capacity would take years and substantial investments.

Nurses and health care workers mourn and remember their colleagues who died during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus during a demonstration outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Coronavirus Vaccine? Two Pharmaceutical Giants Collaborating To Develop One

1:11pm April 14, 2020

by Joe Palca

Pharmaceutical companies GSK and Sanofi are partnering to work on several vaccine candidates to fight the coronavirus.

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized two malaria — chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine — to be added to the national emergency stockpile for use in responding to COVID-19.

FDA OK's Addition To Stockpile Of Malaria Drugs For COVID-19

4:53pm March 30, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Chloroquine and hydroxycloroquine got the Food and Drug Administration's go-ahead to be put in the nation's strategic storehouses. But the drugs haven't been approved to treat coronavirus patients.

Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O'Day (center) took part in a meeting of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on March 2.

FDA Grants Experimental Coronavirus Drug Benefits For Rare Disease Treatments

7:26pm March 24, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Gilead Science's remdesivir, an antiviral medicine being tested for treatment of COVID-19, would get a seven-year monopoly if approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Health insurers are limiting which drugs they'll cover, in a bid to limit drug costs.

Health & Safety

Insurers Cover Fewer Drugs, Leaving Some Patients Struggling To Get Needed Treatments

8:24pm March 16, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

A new report finds insurers are becoming more selective about which medications they'll cover. Patients and doctors have to work harder to get treatments approved.

Asymchem Laboratories Inc., of Tianjin, China, makes drugs and ingredients that are sold by other drug companies in the U.S.

Health & Safety

How Coronavirus Is Affecting The U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply

5:00am March 12, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

In China, drug manufacturers are getting back to work. But supply chain disruptions could still lead to drug shortages down the road.