Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 8, 2024 – Gilead Sciences, in collaboration with the Africa CDC and the Rwandan Ministry of Health, is donating 5,100 vials of remdesivir to support the Rwandan government’s response to Marburg virus disease (MVD). did. This emergency donation, following negotiations led by the Africa CDC, is aimed at providing treatment to those affected by the virus.
After Rwanda’s Ministry of Health declared an outbreak on September 27, 2024, Africa CDC sent a senior response leader to Kigali to assist with surveillance, laboratory testing, and research. Although there is no approved treatment for MVD, remdesivir is being supplied for emergency use as global vaccine and treatment trials led by the WHO are underway.
Gilead is currently coordinating directly with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to ensure courses of remdesivir are available to patients in need throughout the affected regions.
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About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with more than 30 years of pursuing and achieving medical advances with the goal of creating a healthier world for everyone. The company is committed to developing innovative medicines for the prevention and treatment of life-threatening diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer and inflammation. Gilead is headquartered in Foster City, California and operates in more than 35 countries around the world.
Gilead led the pioneering efforts in the discovery and development of remdesivir. Remdesivir was widely used during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and was one of the drug candidates tested under the PALM trial during the 2018 Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
This drug will be donated for use under compassionate conditions.
Anu Oshinusi, Vice President, Clinical Research, Hepatitis, Respiratory and Emerging Viruses, Gilead Sciences.“The recent outbreak of Marburg disease in Rwanda is one of the largest in history, and although the country has a strong public health system, filoviruses like Marburg disease are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With our extensive experience in virology, our immediate focus is to help governments and governments respond to this outbreak as efficiently as possible. We are working closely with health authorities to provide access to remdesivir for emergency use in Rwanda.”
Dr. Sabine Nsanzimana, Minister of Health of Rwanda:
“Our partnership with Gilead Sciences and the Africa CDC is critical to our efforts to manage the Marburg virus disease outbreak. The donation of antiviral treatments, such as remdesivir, will bring treatment options to the cases we are currently treating. We are grateful for the international cooperation that is helping Rwanda respond quickly and effectively to this public health emergency.”
Dr. Gene Kaseya, Africa CDC Executive Director:“This donation by Gilead Sciences is a testament to the power of global collaboration in public health. Africa CDC’s role in facilitating this support is critical to ensuring that African Union member states are able to ensure that the best available treatments are available in times of crisis. We are working with the Government of Rwanda and partners to advance research on future measures needed to contain and manage this outbreak. We are taking all measures.”
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About Africa CDC
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union, supporting member states in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and disease prevention and control. .
For more information, please visit http://www.africacdc.org. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
About Rwanda Ministry of Health
The mission of the Ministry of Health is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and the improvement of the general welfare of the population through the provision and continuous improvement of the highest quality promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services at affordable prices. That’s it. For more information, please visit https://www.moh.gov.rw/.
Media contact:
Margaret Edwin | Director of Communications and Public Relations | EdwinM@africadc.org
