Public Citizen — that’s you, me and hundreds of thousands of other supporters — just won an important victory.

But there’s more to do.

Here’s the story of a corporate profiteering scheme thwarted:

• Gilead Sciences makes an experimental medication that might prove effective in treating COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

• The company — which saw its revenue top $22 billion last year — rushed to acquire special monopoly privileges meant to spur development of medications that treat rare diseases.

• A disease qualifies as “rare” if it afflicts fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. at the time a company seeks the monopoly privileges.

• Those privileges stay in place even if the patient population later exceeds 200,000.

• And, as we all know, it is entirely possible that tens of millions of people will contract COVID-19.

• Public Citizen and allies jumped into action, denouncing Gilead’s unconscionable effort to exploit the coronavirus crisis.

And yesterday, Gilead backed down, rescinding its immoral monopoly claim.

There’s little doubt that the company’s reversal was due to the pressure it felt from Public Citizen and others.

But Gilead is still making only vague gestures toward reasonable pricing.

If Gilead’s medication proves to be a viable treatment for COVID-19, the company must commit right now to license the right to manufacture its medication to all qualified producers, in exchange for a modest royalty.

We can’t let one company hold the whole world hostage to its greed.

Tell Gilead: If your COVID-19 medication is approved, you must allow all qualified manufacturers worldwide to license it at a reasonable cost.

Add your name.

Thanks for taking action.

Stay safe.

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

P.S. This message is part of our ongoing outreach to help you stay informed and involved as our nation and the world grapple with the coronavirus emergency. Public Citizen — like many nonprofits and other small businesses — is feeling the financial strain as this crisis intensifies. If you can, please consider donating to support the critical work we’re doing together. Thank you.
 
 
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