On Monday 2 December, the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) signed a joint framework contract with the pharmaceutical company Gilead, on behalf of 13 countries, for the supply of 2,250,000 vials of Veklury (Remdésivir).
This antiviral treatment can be used to treat Covid-19 in hospitalised adults and adolescents with pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen, or to treat adults at increased risk of progression to severe cases of Covid-19.
The contract will run for a maximum of 3 years. This is the third contract of this type, following the expiry of the second contract in January 2024.
Joint procurement is a European mechanism that allows the 37 signatory countries of the Joint Procurement Agreement to jointly procure medical countermeasures as an alternative or complement to national procurement, on a voluntary and flexible basis. This mechanism contributes to the EU’s preparedness for public health crises or pandemics.
In line with its mandate on readiness, HERA continues to work closely with participating countries to identify and implement joint procurement priorities. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)