The bipartisan coalition noted that the biopharmaceutical company has been unable to assure a sufficient supply of Remdesivir despite receiving substantial taxpayer monies. More than 4.63 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and 154,000 died as of August 3, 2020.
Gilead Sciences plans to produce two million Remdesivir treatment courses by the end of 2020. A full treatment requires anywhere from six and ten vials. The biopharmaceutical company is expected to produce between 12 million to 20 million vials of the antiviral drug.
That number will only cover the full treatment required for about 50% of the current confirmed patients with COVID-19 in the United States, according to the coalition.
Gilead Sciences’ puts profit margins first over Americans with COVID-19
Additionally, the bipartisan coalition mentioned a study indicating that the cost to manufacture Remdesivir is only 93 cents per day or $12.50 per patient. However, Gilead Sciences plans to charge government programs $2,340 for a six-vial, five-day treatment course ($390 per vial) of Remdesivir.
