STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Gilead faces remdesivir production challenges; will scientists run out of Covid-19 trial patients?
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? Although we confess that it may be hard to tell, given how the days tend to blur together lately. Nonetheless, we will take a moment to indulge in weekend daydreams. Our agenda is, not surprisingly, modest. We intend to spend time in the yard, take a nap, and promenade with the mascot, although we are still trying to fashion a mask that sufficiently covers snouts. And what about you? This is a fine time to take a stroll — exercise is more important than ever. You could binge watch on the telly. Or touch base with someone who needs a little human contact. Well, whatever you do, keep on the sunny side. Enjoy, but be safe. See you soon. …
After preliminary results of a U.S. trial suggested positive results for remdesivir, the experimental Gilead Sciences (GILD) drug for Covid-19, the company now faces the challenge of scaling up production of a drug the whole world may want, STAT explains. But some of the substances used to make remdesivir are scarce, and the company wants to be careful not to disrupt its own supply chain. “You don’t just turn a dial and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to start making this,’” says Bernhardt Trout, a professor of chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
