Israeli pharmaceutical Teva donates potential Covid-19

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has announced the donation of 10 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets that will ship through wholesalers to US hospitals, by the end of the month. More than 10 million will be delivered in a month.

The hydroxychloroquine sulfate is one of several drugs cited in recent days as being possibly effective against coronavirus. The Israeli company says it will provide the drug as many as possible at no cost.

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of autoimmune diseases like lupus, malaria or and rheumatoid arthritis.

Although the product is not approved for use in the treatment of Covid-19, it is under investigation for efficacy against the coronavirus and has been requested by US government officials to be made available for use immediately.

Teva is also reviewing the supply of both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine globally to determine whether there are additional supply and access opportunities for patients.

“We are committed to helping to supply as many tablets as possible as demand for this treatment accelerates at no cost”, said Teva EVP North America Commercial Brendan O’Grady.

“Immediately upon learning of the potential benefit of Hydroxychloroquine, Teva began to assess supply and to urgently acquire additional ingredients to make more product while arranging for all of what we had to be distributed immediately,” he said.

Teva said that it is also looking across its entire range of products to determine if the company can help to provide any other products that may be relevant in addressing acute and substantial needs during the Covid-19 crisis.