Gilead is closely evaluating the situation for remdesivir in India as the country tackles shortages of the drug, which has several local licensees, with instances of black marketing adding to the local woes. The US firm clearly will not want any momentum towards possible compulsory licensing as initiated by Hungary and Russia, even as Indian firms have cut prices of the antiviral.

More C-Suite level pharma executives are lending their domain expertise to private equity firms, which then use their skills for commercial due diligence on targets or in an operating partner role in portfolio companies once a deal is sealed. PEs are also increasingly opting for control deals, at least in India, with an aim to run the acquired firm professionally thereon.

India stops remdesivir exports amid steep surge in COVID-19 cases, while licensees of Gilead’s antiviral take multiple measures to ramp up production to meet local demand. One badly affected state stresses the need to stem panic given the limitations of the treatment, even as some non-licensees of the drug apparently seek to contribute to supplies.

AstraZeneca has sent a legal notice to Indian partner Serum Institute for non-delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. Will this and the entry of a new challenger, Sputnik V, in the Indian market affect Serum’s fortunes? Will the EMA and MHRA announcement on clotting incidents related to the AZ vaccine shrink demand for the partnered vaccine?