U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st dist.) sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar regarding the availability of the clinical drug, Remdesivir, which is manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc.
Remdesivir received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, following data from a clinical trial indicated that it shortened the recovery time of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Gilead Services has decided to use the Federal Emergency Management Association and HHS to distribute Remdesivir while the company attempts to increase production. Dozens of hospitals in the area received denial notices regarding their request to obtain and use the clinical drug. Gilead has about 1.5 million doses on hand waiting to be distributed.
“The distribution of Remdesivir must be transparent and allocated based on state and regional COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The areas of our country most heavily impacted must be made a priority,” Fitzpatrick said. “Southeastern Pennsylvania has been the highest inflicted area of Pennsylvania and is in close proximity to New York City, the highest impacted metropolitan region in the United States, and New Jersey, the state with the second-highest number of confirmed cases. It is critical that our hospitals gain easy access to Remdesivir, to allow our healthcare professionals to provide the best possible treatment for our communities.”
