How tariffs disrupted the COVID-19 medical supply chain

Months into the pandemic, the U.S. faces an ongoing shortage of PPE and some of it is still subject to tariffs.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 27, 2020

Bangladesh pharma claims to be first to launch generic remdesivir

Beximco, which wasn't one of five drugmakers to license the coronavirus treatment from Gilead, says it can make a copycat version under World Trade Organization rules.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 21, 2020

Little-known drug manufacturer gets big contract for COVID-19 response

Through BARDA, the U.S. government has promised hundreds of millions of dollars to Phlow, a self-declared public benefit company that aims to secure a U.S.-based supply chain for essential medicines.

By Jacob Bell • May 19, 2020

'Operation Warp Speed,' unveiled by Trump, aims for coronavirus vaccine by year's end

Speeding the development and production of vaccines will be the project's principal aim, but it will also involve readying cold chain storage as well as supplies of needed vials and syringes. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 15, 2020

Gilead licenses COVID-19 drug to 5 generics companies

The agreements would allow Mylan, Cipla and others to make remdesivir and distribute it to 127 countries. A consumer advocacy group, though, criticized Gilead for leaving many countries out. 

By Jacob Bell • May 13, 2020

Surprise setback for Bristol, Bluebird as FDA rejects cell therapy application

In a "refuse-to-file" letter, the regulator requested additional documentation of the companies' manufacturing processes for the CAR-T treatment, ide-cel. 

By Ben Fidler , Ned Pagliarulo • May 13, 2020

Thermo Fisher to invest $180M in new gene therapy plant

The planned facility, to be built in Massachusetts, will rival in size a gene therapy plant in Texas owned by CDMO competitor Lonza. 

By Kristin Jensen • May 13, 2020

FDA, CDC drawing up plan to restart routine plant inspections

A phased approach is in the works to reintroduce oversight that's been on hold in the U.S. and abroad since March.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 12, 2020

Trump administration: States to decide which hospitals get Gilead's COVID-19 drug

HHS will distribute to states some of the roughly 600,000 vials of remdesivir Gilead is donating to the U.S., but said decisions on which hospitals receive the drug will be made by state health agencies.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 11, 2020

Moderna plans earlier start to late-stage test of coronavirus vaccine

A Phase 3 trial of Moderna's experimental vaccine could begin in early summer, several months sooner than what was already an ambitious target for starting this fall.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 7, 2020

Pfizer, BioNTech launch U.S. trial of coronavirus vaccine

Initial vaccine data are expected within weeks as biotech and pharma companies intensify their search for a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 5, 2020

Moderna, with government cash, taps Lonza to make 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine

The deal gives Moderna more manufacturing might to make sufficient supplies of its experimental coronavirus vaccine, which it's advancing quickly.

By Ben Fidler • May 1, 2020

J&J contracts with Catalent to boost coronavirus vaccine production

The partnership is the second J&J has inked in recent weeks as it prepares sufficient capacity to supply 1 billion doses of its experimental vaccine.

By Kristin Jensen • April 30, 2020

3M cites supply chain shift for getting grip on pandemic demand

Demand for N95 masks and healthcare equipment is on the rise, while other products are less needed, forcing the manufacturing giant to pivot quickly. 

By Matt Leonard • April 28, 2020

Merck KGaA to spend $110M on new gene therapy facility in California

The investment continues a spate of build-outs by Merck KGaA, which, like its contracting peers, sees an opportunity in the fast-growing gene therapy field. 

By Kristin Jensen • April 23, 2020

Thermo Fisher, Roche boosted by COVID-19 diagnostics, but warn of routine testing declines

Both companies disclosed big first quarter hits to business in China, and said impacts in the U.S. and Europe could be more apparent as the year goes on. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 22, 2020

Manufacturers call on government to help with production pivots to PPE

NAM, a top trade group, is lobbying for the federal government to provide more incentives for businesses that switch to producing essential goods like PPE.

By Matt Leonard • April 22, 2020

US government to back Moderna's coronavirus vaccine with up to $483M

The BARDA grant will allow Moderna to hire 150 more staff and accelerate testing of its vaccine, which entered a Phase 1 study in March and could soon move to a mid-stage trial. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated April 17, 2020

Fujifilm ramps up production of flu drug Avigan for COVID-19

Use of the drug, which isn't approved in the U.S., is controversial without fuller data showing evidence it works in treating the disease. 

By Kristin Jensen • April 16, 2020

Philips launches scaled-down ventilator, inks production deals to boost output

The medtech has allied with smaller players Flex and Jabil, aiming to produce 4,000 units per week by the third quarter. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 15, 2020

Gilead working to quickly boost production of experimental coronavirus drug

CEO Daniel O'Day said Gilead would provide at no charge its current supply of remdesivir, enough to treat some 140,000 patients with severe COVID-19. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 6, 2020

DOJ allows medical suppliers to collaborate on manufacturing and distribution

Five major medial suppliers wrote to the agency seeking a reprieve from antitrust enforcement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 6, 2020

Emergent to produce Novavax's flu vaccine under CDMO deal

Recent late-stage results showed Novavax's candidate the equal of Sanofi's Fluzone, setting the stage for the Maryland drugmaker to file for FDA approval.

By Kristin Jensen • April 2, 2020

J&J picks top coronavirus vaccine candidate; human tests to start in September

Together with BARDA, the pharma has agreed to spend $1 billion co-funding vaccine research, development and testing.

By Jacob Bell • March 30, 2020

China halts import of Bristol Myers cancer drug after inspection at US plant

Chinese drugmaker Beigene, which sells Bristol Myers' Abraxane in China, said it's bracing for a disruption in supply of the chemotherapy. 

By Kristin Jensen • March 25, 2020