STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Pharma giants plan $1 billion antibiotic venture; Gilead prices remdesivir below most estimates
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was somehow relaxing and refreshing. After all, a break is a break. Now, though, the predictable round of Zoom and Skype meetings has returned. So time to get ready and we are doing so by brewing a few cups of delicious stimulation — maple bourbon, in this instance. Feel free to join us. Remember, no prescription is required. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to get you going on your own journey. Hope you have a useful day and do keep in touch …
Amid escalating concerns over antibiotic resistance, several big drug makers are creating a new $1 billion for-profit venture to acquire or invest in small antibiotic companies and their nascent products, according to STAT. The effort will be announced on July 9 by the chief executive officers at Pfizer (PFE), Merck (MRK), Eli Lilly (LLY), and Novo Nordisk (NVO), among others. Billed as a new initiative to take on “the antibiotic innovation challenge,” the venture will have assistance from the World Health Organization and the European Investment Bank.