Guest post by Stephen J. Ubl
President & CEO, PhRMA
Originally published on PhRMA website in February, 2020
As public officials scramble to construct a comprehensive plan to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), some USCIB members are taking necessary action through public-private partnerships or employing company resources to contain the outbreak.
PhRMA members, which include USCIB members Bayer, Gilead Sciences, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, have dedicated the following programs and initiatives to combat COVID-19:
Bayer donated financial and medical resources to support those affected by the outbreak in China. Donations have been made to the Chinese Red Cross, which works directly with Chinese health authorities to aid with the crisis.
Gilead Sciences is working directly with government organizations and public health officers to support clinical trials to diagnosed patients . Gilead is also accelerating its process in developing a novel antiviral drug, Remdesivir, which has gained recognition for treating Ebola and Marbug.
Johnson & Johnson launched an investigational vaccine developmental program through collaborations with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. J&J is also analyzing previously tested medicines that can reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and lower fatality rates.
Pfizer has completed its preliminary assessment of antiviral compounds similar to that of cultured cells found in COVID-19 cases. The company is now working with a third party to speed the screening process and is expecting results in late March. Depending on toxicology results, Pfizer hopes to move to clinical development by no later than the end of 2020.
While many of these initiatives are in direct response to an evolving public health crisis, they also meet one of the “means of implementation” criteria within UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure Healthy Lives. Most notably, these initiatives meet “means of implementation 3.d: strengthening the capacity of all countries…for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.”
Originally published on PhRMA (February, 2020). You can read more here.