Remdesivir Priced from $2,340 to $3,120 per Patient, Way Cheaper Than Estimated, Gilead CEO Says

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced on Monday, the price of remdesivir, its COVID-19 drug, ranging from $2,340 to $3,120 for each patient in wealthier countries, and agreed to deliver most of its medical supply to the United States in the next three months.

From this range, the floor price is a little lower than the $2,520 to $2,800 range, which the Institute for Clinic and Economic Review recommended last week, following the finding of British researchers of the "cheap, widely available steroid dexamethasone" led to a considerable reduction in deaths among seriously sick COVID-19 patients.

Remdesivir is foreseen to be an in-demand drug and, as of this time, presented to change the course of the killer disease mentioned. 

After this intravenous drug contributed to the reduction of the hospital recovery period in a clinical test, it gained a nod for emergency use and full approval in the US and Japan.

ALSO READ: Drug Company Tests Remdesivir's Inhaled Version as Potential Treatment for COVID-19

Believed to Be the Most Effective Medicine 

News reports said that Remdesivir is believed to be the most effective in terms of treating ill individuals earlier in the course of their disease compared to dexamethasone, which lessened deaths in patients on ventilation and those requiring oxygen for breathing support.

Still, in its ongoing formulation, the drug is the lone medicine being administered on severely ill patients who need hospital confinement as a five-day course of treatment.

Gilead is currently developing an inhaled version of Remdesivir, which patients can use outside a hospital setting. It can be administered by using a nebulizer, which could allow for easier handling and administration at the illness's earlier stage and, as mentioned, outside the hospital.

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Patient Advocates Oppose Pricing of Remdesivir

According to Gilead, for US patients who have commercial insurance, the price of Remdesivir will be up to $3,120 for each course or an equivalent of $520 per vial. 

This is 33 percent more than the $390 for each vial the company said it would charge rich countries' governments and US patients under the government's healthcare programs.

Daniel O'Day, Gilead's Chief Executive, said, the cost is way cheaper than the amount it provides given that early hospital releases result in roughly $12,000 saving for every patient in the US.

However, patient advocates have opposed that the price should be lower since Remdesivir was devised with financial backing from the American administration.

Reports said that Remdesivir had formerly failed as a treatment for the Ebola virus. It has not shown either, any proof that it can reduce mortality rates for COVID-19.

Over Half-a-Million Remdesivir Courses for Distribution in US Hospitals

There are more COVID-19 cases in the US than Europe, with several US states reporting new records for the number of confirmed cases.

In connection to this, the US Department of Health and Human Services has been distributing the drug since last month and, according to the report, "was due to run out after this week." 

A senior official from the HHS said the agency is expecting the drug to be a "scarce resource soon," and therefore, it wanted to stay involved when it comes to allocation of the Remdesivir.

According to HHS, it secured over half-a-million remdesivir courses for hospitals in the US until September. That, the agency added, represents the estimated production of Gilead for July and the 90-percent production in August and September on top of an allotment for clinical tests.

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