1. In Vivo
  2. >>COVID-19

Drug Distributors Mitigate Coronavirus

 
• By Ben Comer

For most patients, drug distributors – companies that provide, control and manage drug supplies – operate as an unseen but critical link in the supply chain. In the context of a global pandemic, however, drug distributors play an even bigger role in helping to ensure that pharmacies, health systems and ultimately patients have access to essential medicines.

Covid19_Stamp_WorldMap
• Source: Shutterstock

First, the good news. Major drug shortages of essential medicines for chronic diseases so far have been avoided, despite a global coronavirus pandemic infecting over 1.4 million people and causing over 80,000 deaths as of 7 April, 2020 .

To date, heart medications have been available, patients with diabetes have not faced insulin shortages and cancer patients, with some specific exceptions discussed below, have been getting the therapies they...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from COVID-19

Top-Selling Drugs 2023: Pharma’s $60bn COVID-19 Cliff

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty toppled after recording the highest ever annual sales for a pharmaceutical in 2022, while Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic climbed rapidly. But Merck & Co’s immuno-oncology blockbuster Keytruda was secure in the number one spot in 2023 as COVID-19 receded.

COVID To GLP-1: Catalent Plants Ride With Novo To Next Public Health Crisis

 
• By Bowman Cox

A complex transformation is underway as client proposes to acquire CDMO facilities that vaccinated the world against the COVID-19 pandemic for pivot to the obesity epidemic.

Outlook 2024: Biopharma Embraces New Markets And New Tech

 
• By Lucie Ellis-Taitt

New markets, a patent cliff, an M&A rebound and clinical trial catalysts. How will it all play out for the biopharma sector in 2024? 

After All The Layoffs, Is Biopharma’s Headcount Still Growing?

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

While biotech layoffs and big pharma restructuring dominate the news in 2023, the sector’s job market remains buoyant.

More from In Vivo

US Health System Redesign Critical, NAM’s Medical Experts Warn Trump Government

 
• By Ashley Yeo

The whirlwind back-and-forth on US tariffs and Robert F. Kennedy jr.’s plans to deregulate health care have become all-preoccupying, but the National Academy of Medicine was first to set out President Trump’s health administration priorities.

Podcast: “Powerful Yet Unexplored”: Commit Biologics Tackles The Complement System

 
• By Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Mikkel Wandahl Pederson, CEO and chief scientific officer at Commit Biologics, discussed the company’s mission to harness the powerful complement system for the treatment of serious diseases.

ML-Assisted Genetic Risk Score Predicts GLP-1 Adverse Events

 
• By David Wild

Phenomix Science presented new data at Digestive Disease Week 2025 showing its machine learning-assisted genetic risk score can predict nausea and side effects from GLP-1 receptor agonists, aiding personalized obesity treatment.