On a serious note what's the alternative? Getting bitched out for not doing enough?
Sure it makes a headline about how shitty we are for spending money. But it's not like we're talking about storing it in a bunker while other people are dying. This is the worst hit country so its understandable that the govt is going to do everything it can to protect its people
Rather than try and answer this myself, I will give you the view of a friend of mine who is a highly certified immunologist, and currently the CMO of a US biotech firm (he is British, based in the UK):
Gilead (as US company)are the innovator and manufacturer and have gone with a price that is lower than predicted and is the same for all developed countries. They have provided for an access policy in the developing world through third party manufacturers (I’m not sure of the exact details) and the estimated price will be about 20% of the developed world price. This all feels about right.
Gilead are not obligated to provide the drug to everyone immediately if supply chain is an issue. So how do they prioritise?
The trials where the efficacy of remdesivir was demonstrated were conducted globally but primarily coordinated by the US National Institutes of Health. So there was an assumption of reciprocity. There are trials that have been conducted elsewhere and funded by governments and charities, so those countries should also expect to have access. The issue is also one of timing. There’s an argument that European countries may not need this until a second wave later in the year.
The US, the country with the highest number of infections and no sign of them abating has bought the next 3 months of supply as they said they would. They have said they would do the same for a vaccine and Sanofi (a vaccine developer) have confirmed that this is likely to be the case.
Alex Azar has trumpeted this as a US triumph. There no irony or embarrassment.
It’s a bit Moral Maze...
So yeah. It's probably not too bad. It still feels a bit Verucca Salt, but it's very on brand for this administration.
