Third in a series, view first and second.
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, Americans are doing their part, working from home, studying online and practicing social distancing. Developers and manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines are doing their part as well, working around the clock to ensure America’s patients have access to the medicines they need. These are our most recent initiatives:
We continue to be so proud of the generosity and initiative of AAM’s member companies. Among them, at the time of publication:
- 3M is doubling its global output of N95 respirators and getting them to health care providers on the front lines of the pandemic.
- Accord’s UK arm is donating two million doses of hydroxychloroquine to the National Health Service, for use in the world’s largest trial.
- Amneal is donating one million hydroxychloroquine sulfate doses of potential COVID-19 treatment to the Texas State Pharmacy, for direct distribution to hospitals, two million doses to New York and 400,000 to Louisiana.
- Apotex is donating 240,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine for a clinical study to prevent infection from COVID-19 with front line health care workers.
- AAM associate member Direct Relief is providing personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers and delivering protective masks, exam gloves and isolation gowns to health care organizations in areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
- Sandoz is donating up to 130 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate to support ongoing clinical trials and 30 million doses to the Strategic National Stockpile.
- Sun Pharmaceutical is donating 2.5 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate.
- Teva is donating 10 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate to hospitals nationwide.
A shipment bound for safety net health providers in Seattle, Washington, leaves Direct Relief’s warehouse. The shipment contained more than 400 pounds of protective gear, including surgical masks, N95 masks, gowns and gloves for the health workers. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)
AAM also published five principles to support continued patient access and a stable, more diverse supply chain for medicines. The principles we outline are meant to serve as a starting point from which we, along with policymakers, patients, academics and other stakeholders can form a proactive policy response in advance of future crises.
AAM and 68 signatories signed on to a letter to President Trump expressing our opposition to proposed “Buy American” requirements that would make it harder for the U.S. government to purchase medicines produced using ingredients from outside the U.S — especially in the middle of a public health emergency. The letter explains, “it is critical that those policies do not restrict access to—or destabilize the supply chain for—currently available pharmaceuticals or medical devices.” Signatories included dozens of patient groups, taxpayer groups and additional non-profits.
The generic and biosimilars industry remains committed to providing responsible and accurate information for everyone who relies on prescription drugs for their health and well-being. AAM posted FAQs pertaining to COVID-19, offering answers and links to important resources. We will update this information regularly as the situation evolves.
All of us here at AAM are extremely grateful to our member companies for their tireless work on behalf of U.S. patients and their families. As always, we stand ready to work alongside federal and state officials to continue to assure access to health-saving generic medicines.
- Read Blog 1 in Series: AAM Interim CEO Jeff Francer on COVID-19
- Read Blog 2 in Series: AAM’s COVID-19 Response: Helping Patients and Families Meet Their Health Care Needs
Jeff Francer, AAM Interim CEO and General Counsel