Roche’s Japanese affiliate says the impact of the pandemic on its second quarter was limited, but points to a more uncertain outlook for the rest of the year, during which it vows to keep focusing on innovation.

Speaking at a high-level European Parliament committee meeting today about COVID-19, the European Medicines Agency’s executive director indicated that Gilead would be submitting a conditional marketing authorization application for remdesivir in the EU.

Gilead’s voluntary licensing of remdesivir to five companies while temporarily charging no royalty and allowing them pricing latitude for 127 developing countries not only expands market access but tilts the pricing debate in Gilead’s favor. It also brings significant potential add-on manufacturing capacity.