EU proposes joint approach to develop COVID-19 drugs

The EU's executive arm has proposed that EU nations join forces to develop and deploy COVID-19 treatments across the 27-nation bloc

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission proposed Thursday that EU nations join forces to develop and deploy COVID-19 drugs across the 27-nation bloc. In addition to the vaccine contracts already secured through a similar joint procurement, the EU’s executive arm said it will set up a portfolio of 10 potential COVID-19 treatments, with the aim of authorizing three new ones to treat COVID-19 by October. So far, the antiviral medicine remdesivir is the only drug authorized across the EU for treating coronavirus patients. “Vaccinations save lives, but they cannot yet eradicate COVID-19. We need a strong push on treatments to limit the need for hospitalization, speed up recovery times and reduce mortality,” said Stella Kyriakides, the bloc's Health and Food Safety commissioner.