Gilead signs voluntary licenses (VL) with five generics producers in India and Pakistan (Cipla, Hetero Labs, Jubilant Lifesciences, Mylan, and Ferozsons), allowing them to manufacture and sell remdesivir in 127 countries (and discouraging production of generic versions in middle-income countries, including Brazil, which is home to one of the world’s largest epidemics). Half of the world’s population is excluded from these agreements, which allow Gilead to focus on supplying the product to high-income countries. The companies can set their own prices and will not have to pay royalties until WHO deems that the public health emergency from novel coronavirus is over, or until another medicine or vaccine becomes available. Sources 1,2
