According to the information released by the community executive, this contract signed with Gilead, after talks with the company in recent weeks, aims to “guarantee treatment doses of Veklury, the trademark of Remdesivir”, which is considered to be the “ first drug authorised at EU level for the treatment of covid-19”.

Thus, "from the beginning of August, and in order to meet immediate needs, lots of Veklury will be made available to Member States and the United Kingdom, with the coordination and support of the Commission", adds the European Commission.

Budgeted at €63 million financed by the European Commission's Emergency Support Instrument, the measure aims to guarantee the treatment of about 30,000 patients who have severe symptoms of Covid-19, according to the institution's estimates.

"This will help to cover current needs over the next few months, while ensuring fair distribution at EU level, based on a distribution key, taking into account the recommendations of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control", explains the European Union Commission.

The community executive is now preparing for a joint acquisition for new 'stocks' of the drug to cover additional needs and supplies from October.

In early July, Remdesivir was authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as the first treatment for Covid-19, aiming to cure adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with pneumonia that require supplemental oxygen.

As long as it is authorised to be marketed for the treatment of Covid-19 in the EU, the drug continues to be monitored to ensure its safety.

Gilead was also asked to submit final reports of the Remdesivir studies to the EMA by the end of the year, which is one of the conditions to be met in order to move from a conditional marketing authorisation to a full authorisation.