Switzerland buys access to potential Covid-19 treatment drug
The drug could also be administered to risk groups and those in front-line jobs, the Health Office said.
Keystone / Alessandro Crinari
The Swiss government has signed an agreement with a Zurich company for priority access to a drug being developed to treat those severely ill with Covid-19.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/dos
Português
pt
A Suíça compra acesso ao potencial medicamento de tratamento para o Covid-19
The deal with the Molecular Partners firm gives Switzerland access to the first 200,000 doses of the medicine, as well as up to three million further doses when requested, the Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH) announcedExternal link on Tuesday.
The deal is worth several million francs, the Keystone-SDA news agency reported.
The immunotherapeutic agent, currently in development, is “comparable to mixtures of antibody therapies that are used to neutralise the virus”, the FOPH wrote. If approved, it would mainly be used to treat people already infected with Covid-19, although it could also be administered to risk groups as a prophylactic.
Clinical trials of the drug are planned for Autumn 2020.
The deal is another leg of the government’s anti-coronavirus strategy. It has also put aside CHF300 million ($329 million) for the procurement of a vaccine, and last week announced the pre-purchase of up to 4.5 million doses of a drug being developed by US firm Moderna.
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Meet the foreigners who make up a quarter of the Swiss population
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Swiss politician resigns after firing shots at Jesus picture
This content was published on
Zurich politician Sanija Ameti has been heavily criticised and reported to the police after firing shots at a picture with a Christian motif.
Thousands of signatures for Bern initiative disappear
This content was published on
A package containing signatures to be certified for the city's minimum wage initiative has gone missing from the Bern City Chancellery.
Swiss Federal Railways reports lower profit, higher punctuality
This content was published on
Swiss Federal Railways made only half as much profit in the first half of 2024 as in the same period of the previous year.
Swiss Re sees demand for reinsurance rise amid natural disasters
This content was published on
Swiss Re anticipates an increase in demand for reinsurance coverage in response to growing environmental and political risks.
New labour agreement for Edelweiss pilots to come into force this year
This content was published on
The newly negotiated collective labor agreement (CLA) for cockpit staff at the airline Edelweiss is to be signed this year. According to the pilots' association, the original aim was for the new CLA to come into force in fall 2024.
This content was published on
The head of the group of experts for the Swiss government's savings proposals sees his work vindicated by the criticism coming from the right and the left.
Hotel rates already spiking ahead of 2025 Eurovision in Basel
This content was published on
A week after Basel was chosen to host the Eurovision Song Contest next year, hotel prices are soaring in neighboring cities.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Government earmarks CHF300 million to secure Covid-19 vaccine
This content was published on
The Swiss government is setting aside funds to procure enough doses of a Covid-19 vaccine for the country’s 8.6 million population.
Switzerland pre-orders 4.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine
This content was published on
The Swiss government has signed a deal with US biotech firm Moderna to secure early access to 4.5 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine currently in development.
This content was published on
It’s the question we all want an answer to: when will there be a vaccine against Covid-19? And how is fair access being negotiated?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.