Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news from the global pandemic. Two Chinese patients test positive months after recovering from virus U.K.’s Covid options for mass layoffs or extended aid are both costly U.S. virus-relief talks are in limbo with no sign of stalemate easing Pharma rivals join to fight a common foe Let the collaborations begin. The introduction of Gilead Sciences Inc.’s remdesivir came as a relief in May as it was the first drug to offer hope for treating infections from the novel coronavirus. But it also came with significant hurdles, mainly in manufacturing. It’s a new product, so production wasn’t readily in place, and it’s hard to make. The surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations, meanwhile, put it in high demand. Gilead announced last week it’s working with 40 companies in North America, Europe and Asia to produce enough to treat 2 million people by the end of the year, and another nine generic manufacturers for low- and lower-middle income countries. Big-name competitors, including Pfizer Inc., are stepping up to help shoulder the production demands. It’s reassuring — maybe even heartwarming — to see fierce competitors in the pharmaceutical space coming together to fight a more dangerous rival, one that has set the entire world back on its heels for most of 2020. To vanquish Covid-19, many more collaborations will likely be needed.  Vials of remdesivir Photographer: Ulrich Perrey/AFP via Getty Images “It’s a type of partnership a lot of the industry leans further into in moments of strain,” said Nicolette Louissaint, executive director of the nonprofit Healthcare Ready, which facilitates public-private collaborations to protect the health-care supply chain. “It’s a reminder that this is what companies are capable of.” Louissaint said these so-called contract manufacturing agreements are going to be all the more important for biotechs that are working on pandemic solutions, but don’t have the necessary production capacity for scale. Smaller players will have to turn to Big Pharma, she said, though we shouldn’t consider their willingness to pitch in to be philanthropy. Those with manufacturing wherewithal, like Pfizer, also stand to gain from the agreements. “You can sustain your business, make a profit, and bring in money in ways that allow you to do good,” she said. The partnership between Gilead and Pfizer is a testament to that. Hopefully the model works, because the need to collaborate will intensify as vaccines that are still in development near the market. While remdesivir is given to the fraction of the population that is hospitalized with Covid-19, the entire world will need to be protected against the novel pathogen in order to control its spread. Producing at least one, and likely two, shots for the nearly 7.8 billion global population will be a stretch. It’s never been done before, and the timeline couldn’t be more aggressive. To the pharmaceutical industry: godspeed. —Michelle Fay Cortez and Riley Griffin Track the virus The Race Gap in Clinical Trials Drug companies are fast-tracking clinical trials. But those trials have a major diversity problem.  Tune in Today: Join us at 6:35 p.m. BST/1:35 p.m. ET for a virtual briefing with Pfizer’s Head of Vaccine Research and Development Kathrin Jansen, Oxford University Professor Sarah Gilbert, and Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley. They’ll be discussing the race to solve the Covid-19 crisis with Bloomberg’s Stephanie Baker. Get the full details of the event and register here. Sponsored Content by Siemens America’s factories, power plants, transportation and hospitals all need technology and our technology is only as powerful as the people deploying and maintaining it. Keeping America moving takes more than technology alone. It takes a human touch. Siemens Ingenuity for life. What you should read China Says Brazilian Chicken Wings Test Positive Sample came from surface of the meat; people in contact tested negative. Paris Ultra-Luxury Hotels Face Gloomy Future Capital of the world’s No. 1 tourist destination needs high-rolling tourists. India Death Toll Now the World’s Fourth Largest The country has overtaken the U.K. with a total of 47,033 fatalities. Virus Risks Overwhelming Beirut After Explosion Major hospitals out of action, more than two dozen clinics incapacitated. American Cities Brace for Even Greater Inequality With huge budget shortfalls, cities may prioritize keeping high earners. Know someone else who would like this newsletter? Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us Get the newsletter You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg’s Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022 |
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