4 ms·

Why so cynic? "On 12 May 2020, Gilead announced that it had granted non-exclusive voluntary licenses to five generic drug companies to manufacture remdesivir f

Why so cynic? "On 12 May 2020, Gilead announced that it had granted non-exclusive voluntary licenses to five generic drug companies to manufacture remdesivir for distribution to 127 countries. The agreements were structured so that the licensees can set their own prices and will not have to pay royalties to Gilead until the WHO declares an end to the COVID-19 emergency or another medicine or vaccine is approved for COVID-19, whichever comes first" [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remdesivir#Access https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remdesivir#Access

neltnerb 6y ago
Doesn't matter if it's so hard to manufacture that the generics miss the train. If they did the same for the other drug then I'd trust their motives more. If you were a generics manufacturer would you invest in a complex process that will definitely turn into a wasted investment within just a few years when Gilead starts demanding royalties?
- pkaye 6y ago
  So its all about money for the generics manufacturers too?
  - neltnerb 6y ago
    Not all of them, but who would set up a production line for something that will have unknown royalties required to keep it running within the next year or two? It'll take them that long just to get it up and running smoothly. Even if they made zero profit it's a questionable move. "until the WHO declares an end to the COVID-19 emergency or another medicine or vaccine is approved for COVID-19, whichever comes first" could easily be very soon, after which who knows what they'll demand. If they put their patent on GS-441524 in the public domain, on the other hand, it'd be quite clear that they're not creating a situation where the second the WHO changes the status they won't suddenly demand price increases to whatever level they want or punishing royalties to keep producing the drug that the generics company already constructed a manufacturing line for. Maybe an analogy is suitable here -- I see this as like Apple telling everyone that they won't demand royalties on rounded corners for six months. Would you tool up a manufacturing line to make rounded corners if given that proposition? Because setting up a chemical manufacturing line takes even longer than reconfiguring a machining operation.
    - trhway 6y ago
      technically the chemical manufacturing lines are already there - there is an active gray market for GS-441524 produced in China for cat FIP.
sp332 6y ago
Also "Gilead is providing the entirety of this existing supply at no cost, to treat patients with the most severe symptoms of COVID-19. The 1.5 million individual doses are available for compassionate use, expanded access and clinical trials and will be donated for broader distribution following any potential future regulatory authorizations." https://www.gilead.com/stories/articles/an-update-on-covid-19-from-our-chairman-and-ceo https://www.gilead.com/stories/articles/an-update-on-covid-1...
conistonwater 6y ago
I just kind of assumed it was about patent royalties, I didn't really check.

neltnerb 6y ago

Doesn't matter if it's so hard to manufacture that the generics miss the train. If they did the same for the other drug then I'd trust their motives more. If you were a generics manufacturer would you invest in a complex process that will definitely turn into a wasted investment within just a few years when Gilead starts demanding royalties?

pkaye 6y ago
So its all about money for the generics manufacturers too?
- neltnerb 6y ago
  Not all of them, but who would set up a production line for something that will have unknown royalties required to keep it running within the next year or two? It'll take them that long just to get it up and running smoothly. Even if they made zero profit it's a questionable move. "until the WHO declares an end to the COVID-19 emergency or another medicine or vaccine is approved for COVID-19, whichever comes first" could easily be very soon, after which who knows what they'll demand. If they put their patent on GS-441524 in the public domain, on the other hand, it'd be quite clear that they're not creating a situation where the second the WHO changes the status they won't suddenly demand price increases to whatever level they want or punishing royalties to keep producing the drug that the generics company already constructed a manufacturing line for. Maybe an analogy is suitable here -- I see this as like Apple telling everyone that they won't demand royalties on rounded corners for six months. Would you tool up a manufacturing line to make rounded corners if given that proposition? Because setting up a chemical manufacturing line takes even longer than reconfiguring a machining operation.
  - trhway 6y ago
    technically the chemical manufacturing lines are already there - there is an active gray market for GS-441524 produced in China for cat FIP.

sp332 6y ago

Also "Gilead is providing the entirety of this existing supply at no cost, to treat patients with the most severe symptoms of COVID-19. The 1.5 million individual doses are available for compassionate use, expanded access and clinical trials and will be donated for broader distribution following any potential future regulatory authorizations." https://www.gilead.com/stories/articles/an-update-on-covid-19-from-our-chairman-and-ceo https://www.gilead.com/stories/articles/an-update-on-covid-1...

conistonwater 6y ago

I just kind of assumed it was about patent royalties, I didn't really check.