Gilead Announces Licensing Agreements with Five Generic Manufacturers to Expand Remdesivir Access in 127 Countries

On May 12, Gilead announced that it had reached licensing agreements with five generic drug manufacturers, allowing them to produce and sell the antiviral drug remdesivir in 127 countries/regions, excluding the United States.The five companies are Mylan, Cipla, Ferozsons Laboratories, Hetero Labs, and Jubilant Lifesciences.

Gilead stated that the remdesivir produced by these companies would be distributed in low- and middle-income countries, as well as in certain upper-middle- and high-income countries. Additionally, the agreement is royalty-free until the WHO declares that the coronavirus pandemic is no longer a global health emergency, or until other drugs or vaccines are approved for marketing to treat or prevent coronavirus infection.

Remdesivir received emergency use authorization from the FDA on May 1 for the treatment of hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, and was formally approved by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on May 7 under the brand name Veklury.