On 2 December 2024, the Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) signed a joint procurement framework contract with the pharmaceutical company Gilead for the supply of Veklury (Remdesivir), an antiviral treatment for COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation.
This is the third such agreement, following the expiration of the previous contract in January 2024. Thirteen EU/EEA countries are taking part in the procurement, which allows for the purchase of up to 2 250 000 vials.
Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in adult and adolescent patients with pneumonia who need supplemental oxygen.
The EU’s Joint Procurement Agreement allows the 37 participating countries to procure medical countermeasures together, either as an alternative to, or in addition to national procurement. In line with its mandate on preparedness, HERA continues to collaborate closely with the participating countries to identify and implement priorities for joint procurement.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has focused on ensuring access to medical equipment and treatments for European patients. This effort was outlined in the EU Therapeutics Strategy, which has now been advanced with a third framework agreement with Gilead to secure antiviral treatments for those in need. COVID-19 remains a challenge, and alongside vaccines, effective treatments are being made available to those who require them, as protecting public health remains a top priority.
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Details
- Publication date
- 3 December 2024
- Author
- Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority