Trump FDA Grants Drug Company Exclusive Claim on Promising Coronavirus Drug

[alwaysinasnit]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/24/massive-scandal-trump-fda-grants-drug-company-exclusive-claim-promising-coronavirus

snip...

As The Intercept reported Monday, the Food and Drug Administration granted Gilead Sciences "orphan" drug status for remdesivir, one of several drugs being tested as potential treatments for the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. The designation is generally reserved for drugs that treat rare illnesses affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans—but companies can be eligible if the designation, as in this case of a rapidly spreading virus, is made before a disease spreads beyond that limit.

About 40,000 Americans had contracted COVID-19 when the orphan status was granted to remdesivir Monday, and the disease is spreading faster in the U.S. than in other countries. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 51,000 Americans had confirmed cases.

Having secured orphan drug status, Gilead Sciences can now profit exclusively off the drug for seven years and could block manufacturers from developing generic versions of the drug which might be more accessible to many patients. The company can set price controls on the drug as well as benefiting from grants and tax credits.

As The Intercept reported, the designation was given to a company where Joe Grogan, a member of President Donald Trump's "coronavirus task force," worked as a lobbyist from 2011 to 2017, often working on issues regarding drug pricing.

snip...

[jls4561]

1. Thi is an outrage!

I don't know what the appropriate agency or committee should be investigating, but someone should.

Oh wait - Bill Barf's Justice department has announced it will be investigating profiteering on anything related to the corona virus.

We're screwed!

[dweller]

2. do we have treatments for the flu?

other than Tamiflu that may or may not help depending on how fast you take it?

focus should be on vaccine, imo
ymmv

✌🏼

[alwaysinasnit]

3. I have no idea weather this particular drug may actually be effective and available to the public.

What bothers me is the suspicion that insider information was used to get the research advanced and then the process to make sure Gilead makes a lot $$ off it.

[dweller]

4. but that's SOP

and doesn't surprise me
hoping a benevolent entity produces a vaccine that will be available forever

silly me in my own private utopia

✌🏼

[alwaysinasnit]

5. +1000