Gilead Resumes Direct Distribution of Remdesivir to Treat COVID-19

Gilead Sciences has resumed direct distribution to hospitals of its antiviral drug remdesivir, after HHS decided that the federal government no longer has to control the process because there is a sufficient supply to treat COVID-19 patients.

AmerisourceBergen is Gilead’s sole U.S. distributor of Veklury through the end of 2020, and it will then sell the product directly to hospitals. The revised Emergency Use Authorization for Veklury permits its use to treat hospitalized adult and pediatric patients with suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar said that during the past five months the department distributed approximately 150,000 treatment courses of donated Veklury and made more than 500,000 treatment courses of the drug available for patients in U.S. hospitals.

The cost of Veklury will not change as Gilead takes back control of distribution, HHS said.

 Hospitals will continue to pay no more than Gilead’s wholesale acquisition price (WAC), approximately $3,200 per treatment course.

Gilead said that it is now meeting demand for Veklury in the U.S. and anticipates meeting global demand in October, “even in the event of potential future surges of COVID-19.” — Martin Berman-Gorvine