The U.S. government will no longer control distribution of remdesivir, an HHS spokesperson told The Washington Post.
The drugmaker said that as of Oct. 1, it will be responsible for distributing remdesivir in the U.S .and AmerisourceBergen will continue to serve as the sole U.S. distributor through the end of the year. AmerisourceBergen will sell remdesivir directly to hospitals.
Though the drug faced severe shortages in the spring and summer, it is no longer facing widespread shortages. Gilead released a statement Oct. 1 saying it is meeting real-time demand for remdesivir in the U.S. and anticipates meeting global demand in October, even in the event of a COVID-19 surge.
Gilead has taken more steps for full FDA approval of the drug, which it has named Veklury. It is on track to make more than $9 billion on the drug in 2020 and 2021, the Post reported, as a five-day treatment course is priced at $3,120. Gilead said it doesn't plan to change the price.
Clinical studies have raised questions about the drug's effectiveness, and the most conclusive studies have shown that it reduces hospital stays from 15 days to 11 but doesn't significantly reduce the odds of dying from COVID-19, according to the Post.
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