Mylan, Merck & Co, Pfizer, Lilly Outline Relief Efforts for COVID-19

Mylan donates hydroxychloroquine, a potential COVID-19 treatment. Merck & Co., Pfizer, and Eli Lilly and Company outline relief efforts.

Mylan Donates 10 Million Tablets of Potential COVID-19 Drug to US Gov’t
Mylan is donating 10 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine sulfate, 200 mg, a potential treatment against COVID-19, to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), for possible use under an investigational new drug application authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or an Emergency Use Authorization granted by the FDA. Mylan reported on March 19, 2020 that it had re-started production of generic hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets, 200 mg, at its Morgantown, West Virginia manufacturing site to meet increasing demand in the context of COVID-19. Mylan says it has expedited its manufacturing of hydroxychloroquine tablets, and product has been made available ahead of schedule.

The company has also begun shipping additional product to wholesalers within the US to help support existing patient needs to address shortages for FDA-approved product use. Mylan’s hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, Mylan is donating product to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support its investigation of the potential effectiveness of several medicines in treating COVID-19. Mylan is providing hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets, 200 mg, and lopinavir/ritonavir tablets, 200/50 mg to the WHO.

Source: Mylan


Merck & Co., Pfizer, Lilly Outline Relief Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic
Merck & Co., Pfizer, and Eli Lilly and Company have announced medical-service volunteer programs to enable employees who are licensed medical professionals to aid in efforts against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while maintaining their base pay.

Merck & Co. will support its employees who are qualified to provide medical services and wish to aid communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the US, Merck says it intends to collaborate with The Health Management Academy, a network of executives from the largest integrated health systems and healthcare companies, to identify facilities with the greatest need and triage potential qualifying volunteers to serve.

Pfizer has created a new Global COVID-19 Medical Service Program for its medical-service employees to provide diagnostic, treatment, and public health support against COVID-19. Under the program, licensed medical professionals who feel duty-bound to provide their services during this crisis will now have a way to engage in efforts against COVID-19. Employees will continue to receive their full pay, benefits, and will be able to return to their positions upon completion of service.

Lilly is deploying its medical professionals to staff a free drive-through COVID-19 testing facility at its corporate headquarters in Indianapolis. The testing facility serves active frontline healthcare workers and first responders. Lilly scientists are using the company’s specialized research laboratories to analyze these tests as well as samples taken in Indiana healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and emergency rooms, in partnership with the Indiana State Department of Health. Lilly is also allowing trained medical professionals to volunteer in service of patients.

Source: Merck & Co., Pfizer, and Eli Lilly and Company 


Pfizer Donates $40 M, Develops Other Solutions to Address COVID-19
Pfizer and The Pfizer Foundation have committed $40 million in medical and charitable cash grants to help address the global health effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The combined donation includes medical and charitable grants from Pfizer and The Pfizer Foundation to support both domestic and global responses as outlined below.

In states in the US with high COVID-19 disease burden, emergency relief funds will be provided to government public health organizations to help address local COVID-19 health needs as well as to non-profit community health organizations. Grant funding will also be provided to charitable community health clinics for immediate and longer-term needs of frontline healthcare workers addressing infectious disease priorities and the COVID-19 response.

Outside the US, grant funding will be provided to international non-governmental organizations and partners that support direct COVID-19 relief and longer-term health systems strengthening. More than $1 million in grant funding has been provided to established partners, including Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, Project HOPE, a health and humanitarian relief organization, and International Medical Corps, a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization, to support the provision of supplies to frontline healthcare workers and to aid in global recovery efforts.

Through its Global Medical Grants program, Pfizer will provide $5 million in funding to support meritorious educational and research proposals that seek to improve the recognition, diagnosis, treatment and overall management of patients with COVID-19. Quality-improvement grant funding will be available for medical centers, hospitals, and clinics to improve the management and outcome of patients with COVID-19.

The majority of the donations will be distributed to partners within the next four to six weeks (as announced on April 6, 2020) based on a previous evaluation of response-priority needs and partner-resource capabilities and gaps. Pfizer, The Pfizer Foundation, and its partners will monitor and assess the evolving nature of the pandemic and the impact of these grants.

Pfizer has also adapted elements of its US Patient Assistance Program to accommodate the challenges eligible patients are facing by increasing medication supply during the quarantine, upon request, and where possible, accepting telehealth prescriptions, among other efforts. Pfizer has also partnered with governments, international NGOs and US non-profit organizations to donate and distribute essential medications and vaccines.

Pfizer has created a new Global COVID-19 Medical Service Program that allows medical employees to provide diagnostic, treatment and public health support in efforts against COVID-19. In addition, many of Pfizer’s approximately 90,000 employees are donating their time and skills through virtual and other safe volunteer activities to help address COVID-19-related health needs at the community level, and The Pfizer Foundation is matching colleague donations to local, national and global charitable organizations.

Source: Pfizer

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