Big news this week, with the U.S. administration buying up remdesivir’s stock for the next three months, ensuring no other country will receive any. In other news, Pfizer and BioNTech’s own covid drug has shown promising results in early trials, and Bayer has settled claims over weedkiller Roundup’s cancerous effects for over $10 billion. 

GILEAD SETS REMDESIVIR PRICES as U.S. BUYS ENTIRE STOCK – Gilead has set remdesivir’s price at $2,340 for a five-day treatment, or $390 per vial. When the drug starts selling through normal distribution channels, the price will rise to $520 a vial. Though the drug has not yet been formally approved as a treatment for COVID-19, the United States has already bought up the world’s stock of the drug. This has left none for the rest of the world for at least three months. 

PFIZER/BIONTECH COVID VACCINE SHOWS PROMISE IN PHASE 1/2 TRIALS – Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the results of the phase 1/2 trials for their coronavirus vaccine BNT162b1. Though only trialled in a small group so far, the drug has shown efficacy in neutralising the virus. 

BAYER SETTLES ROUNDUP CLAIMS FOR $10 BILLION – Bayer has agreed to pay $10.9 billion in order to settle a lawsuit over Roundup, a weedkiller that allegedly causes cancer in users. The company is also paying $1.22 billion in two other cases, one pertaining to polychlorinated biphenyl in water. In 2019, the company paid over $2 billion to a couple who developed cancer after using the weedkiller. Bayer has appealed the new rulings. 

In other news:

Clinical Trials
Oxford may be best hope for Covid-19 vaccine in 2020
Ultragenyx receives second FDA approval in two weeks with metabolic disease drug
Keytruda approved for colorectal cancer use after one month of review

Manufacturing
Scottish company Symbiosis to manufacture AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine

That’s all for now. See you next week!

Joshua Neil, Editor
Proventa International

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