May 27, 2020
We understand the urgency, but our goal isn’t to be the frontrunner in the early stages — it’s to develop a vaccine that is safe and effective.
- Frazier recently did a series of interviews as the company continues to push into the competitive space for a COVID-19 treatment.
- Merck recently bought a European company working on a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Merck also partnered with a smaller U.S. company working on an antiviral treatment for COVID-19; unlike remdesevir, this treatment does not have to be administered through an IV.
- Why It Matters: Frazier, although optimistic about COVID-19 pharmaceuticals, underscored the need for safety and efficiency when millions – and potentially billions – of people may eventually need the treatments developed. He said in an interview with The Financial Times that 12-18 months to develop a safe and effective vaccine was “very aggressive” and a timeline he did not want to commit his company too.
Read more of his Financial Times interview HERE
by Jenna Lee,
