Wouldn’t worry about monkeypox, cuts drug costs for low-income
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Albert Bourla (Pfizer CEO) at the WEF, Davos Switzerland, May 25, 2022.
Adam Galici | CNBC
PfizerOn Wednesday,’s CEO stated that he wouldn’t be concerned about recent cases of monkeypox that have been increasing in other countries.
CNBC’s Albert Bourla stated that the current evidence on the disease indicates that it does not transmit as easily to other viruses like Covid-19 and it is unlikely that it will lead to a pandemic.
“I don’t have all of the information I need.” He said that with all the information I have, I would not worry too much.” World Economic ForumDavos
He said, “That does not mean we should be relaxed.” “I believe we need to monitor the current situation.”
Monkeypox has been identified as a rare viral infection that is endemic to Central and West Africa. It can spread throughout the world. through close contact with people, animals or material infected with the virus, with symptoms including rashes, fever, headaches, muscle ache, swelling and backpain.
Although most cases are mild they can be severe. typically resolving within two to four weeksHealth experts are baffled at the sudden spike in patients from countries that have never been affected by the disease or those who do not know how to travel to countries endemic.
Effective Wednesday at least 237 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox had been reported in countries outside of Africa, including in the United Arab Emirates — the first gulf state to report a case.
Bourla said that existing treatment options offer reason to be hopeful. The effectiveness of smallpox vaccines against monkeypox has been proven to be 85%. France DenmarkTargeted vaccinations are being considered for people most susceptible to the disease.
The poorest nations in the world to get medicines at a reasonable price
Pfizer also announced Wednesday that all its patent medicines would be made available for free to the poorest nations in the world.
Bourla said that all of the patented products would be available at no cost to 45 countries with 1.2 million people.
According to The Pharmaceutical Giant, the plan includes 23 wholly-owned and patentable medicines as well as vaccines for certain types of infectious diseases.
Pfizer has also included Comirnaty and Covid-19, which were developed together with BioNTechBourla claimed that this would be an immediate benefit.
The list also includes the Covid-19 treatment Paxlovid, breast cancer drug Ibrance and pneumonia vaccine Prevnar 13.
As they become available, more medicines and vaccins will be added.
Pfizer will include in its program “An agreement for a better world” 27 countries with low incomes and 18 other lower-income nations that cover most of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images
Pfizer stated that the program aims to increase access to essential medicines in poorer countries through ease and speed.
Bourla stated that the company has achieved the goal set by him in 2019 to reduce by 50% the global number of people who cannot afford medicine by 2023.
He said that “Today, we’re going to achieve it,” and that shareholders should “believe that we do the right thing.”
Covid-19 shortages being addressed
According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it can typically take four to seven years longer for new treatments to become available in low-income countries than in advanced economies — if they become available at all.
This scheme is called “an agreement to a healthier planet” and will include the participation of 27 and 18 low-income nations, most of which are in Africa and Southeast Asia.
The Covid-19 vaccine roll-out and refusal to give up intellectual property rights were criticized by the drug company. Some poorer countries had to wait months before receiving their first doses.
Bourla explained that some of the shortfalls in funding had informed Bourla’s new plan and it would provide greater assistance both for delivery of medicine and execution of treatment.
He said that the Comirnaty rollout was not feasible because “the countries weren’t ready to get vaccines.”
The problem was that they were not equipped to coordinate vaccination campaigns. He said that we need to be concerned about creating a medical infrastructure so they can administer vaccinations.
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