European Commission to procure remdesivir drug amid shortage; pens new deal with Gilead

Gile Sciences and European Commission today signed a joint procurement agreement (JPA) that would allow bloc to purchase an ditional 5,00,000 doses of remdesivir antiviral drugs after several European countries said y are experiencing a short. Remdesivir has been cited as one of only two drugs approved for use in treatment of COVID patients. 

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JPA has replaced an Emergency Support Instrument (ESI), that enabled European Commission to procure Gile's remdesivir drug for European Union Member States, including UK. JPA enables participating countries in EU and European Ecomic Area (EEA) and UK to purchase drug for both real-time demand and stockpiling needs, which will be coordinated by European Commission. 

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Remdesivir approval

In recognition of current public health emergency and based on available clinical data, approval status of drug varies from country to country. To date, drug has been approved or authorized for temporary use as a COVID-19 treatment in approximately 50 countries worldwide. 

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Remdesivir, an investigational drug, has t been approved by FDA for any use. It is yet to be kwnn if remdesivir is safe and effective for treatment of COVID-19. In United States, US Food and Drug ministration (FDA) granted remdisivir an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of only severe COVID-19 hospitalised patients. This authorization is temporary and may be revoked anytime. 

US President Donald Trump, who recently tested positive for COVID-19 along with his wife Melania, is also receiving remdesivir rapy, according to his physician. 

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