Launched by the Swiss company Novartis, the portfolio comprises 15 non-prescription (OTC) generic medicines from the Sandoz division. It will be sold at no profit to governments, non-governmental organizations and other institutional customers in 791 countries until a vaccine or cure becomes available.
Swiss pharma Novartis has announced a new initiative to give patients in low- and middle-income countries access to affordable drugs to treat the main symptoms of COVID-19. This is a crucial need in the absence of a vaccine or cure. Coronavirus-related inflammation and respiratory problems can lead to serious medical complications, and in some cases even death, putting a huge strain on fragile healthcare systems.
The portfolio includes drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, acute respiratory symptoms, pneumonia and septic shock. They have been selected on the basis of their clinical relevance and availability, to ensure that demand can be met worldwide. It will be offered as a complement to Novartis Access (proprietary and off-patent medicines for major chronic diseases).
"This initiative builds on our global commitment to maintain stable prices on a range of essential medicines used to treat patients with COVID-19" Richard Saynor, Sandoz CEO.
Countries will be able to select the medicines that meet their healthcare needs. To be eligible, countries must be on the World Bank's list of low- and middle-income countries. The pandemic is putting extreme pressure on healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries. This initiative complements the COVID-19 Response Fund previously launched by Novartis to support healthcare workers and communities in over 50 projects worldwide.
Novartis is also involved in two major cross-sector research initiatives: the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, coordinated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and Mastercard, and a COVID-19 Research Partnership launched by theInnovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). The company is also separately supporting COVID-19-related clinical research on several of its drugs.
In addition, AveXis, the gene therapy unit of Novartis, has signed a manufacturing agreement with Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital to produce its new COVID-19 genetic vaccine candidate called AAVCOVID.
The COVID-19 portfolio of medicines is the latest contribution from Novartis to the global effort to combat the pandemic and support the stability of healthcare systems. The company has pledged more than $40 million to help communities around the world affected by the pandemic.