Pharmaceuticals

English coronavirus patients George Gilbert, 85, and his wife, Domneva Gilbert, 84, were part of a clinical trial that included Eli Lilly & Co.'s baricitinib.

Health & Safety

Experimental Medicines For COVID-19 Could Help Someday, But Home Runs Not Guaranteed

4:22pm September 18, 2020

by Richard Harris

Drugs are being tested that could reduce symptoms and save lives. But, given the way drugs are developed, it's unlikely that any single medicine will be anywhere as potent as a successful vaccine.

Queue Listen Now

COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Paused, Due To Illness In One Volunteer

9:43pm September 08, 2020

by Joe Palca

A large study of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been put on hold after one of the volunteers became ill.

Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, holds a model of the coronavirus. This is the sixth vaccine candidate to join Operation Warp Speed's portfolio, and the largest vaccine deal to date.

U.S. Reaches $2.1 Billion Deal With Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline For COVID-19 Vaccine Push

1:41pm July 31, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

This is the sixth vaccine candidate to join Operation Warp Speed's portfolio, and the largest vaccine deal to date.

A bottle of hydroxychloroquine tablets in Texas City, Texas. The Food and Drug Administration has rescinded its emergency use authorization for the drug.

FDA Withdraws Emergency Use Authorization For Hydroxychloroquine

3:40pm June 15, 2020

by Joe Palca

Emergency use authorization makes it easier for doctors to use a drug in a manner not specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA granted these drugs this status in March.

An engineer works in April on an experimental COVID-19 vaccine at Sinovac Biotech's facilities in Beijing. Sinovac Biotech is conducting one of four clinical trials that have been authorized in China.

Amid High Stakes, China Is Fast-Tracking COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

4:07pm May 20, 2020

by John Ruwitch

Experts say the Communist Party sees more at stake than public health. One of the biggest concerns is the economy. China is also looking to defuse criticism over its early handling of the outbreak.

Queue Listen Now

Remarks by Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson provoked an uproar in France this week about access to a future COVID-19 vaccine.

French Drug Giant Sanofi Takes Heat After Suggesting U.S. May Get 1st Vaccine Access

3:48pm May 15, 2020

by Eleanor Beardsley

An uproar followed comments by Sanofi's CEO that if the company develops a vaccine, doses would likely go to Americans first. The board president later insisted, "Any vaccine will be a public good."

Queue Listen Now

Stoppers are placed on filled vials of the experimental drug remdesivir at a Gilead Sciences factory.

Health & Safety

Remdesivir Distribution Causes Confusion, Leaves Some Hospitals Empty-Handed

11:12am May 14, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Gilead Sciences is donating its initial supply of the experimental treatment for COVID-19. The federal government is deciding where the scarce medicine goes, and there are questions about the choices.

Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug made by Gilead Sciences, has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use in treating severely ill COVID-19 patients.

Health & Safety

Putting A Price On COVID-19 Treatment Remdesivir

11:01am May 08, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Gilead Sciences has committed to donating the initial supply of the experimental antiviral drug. But executives said the company will need to make expanded production of the treatment sustainable.

Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O'Day speaks at a meeting with President Trump and members of the White House coronavirus task force on March 2.

Gilead Lobbying Rose As Interest In COVID-19 Treatment Climbed

11:51am May 02, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of remdesivir for patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Drugmaker Gilead Sciences' lobbying hit a new high in the first quarter.

Only 28% of the factories that make active ingredients for pharmaceuticals for the domestic market are located in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Health & Safety

What Would It Take To Bring More Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Back To The U.S.?

1:13pm April 24, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

Experts say it could be dangerous to rely on overseas production of medicine in a crisis, but the U.S. largely does. Rebuilding domestic capacity would take years and substantial investments.