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ARTICLE | Product Development

Dexamethasone included in Novartis’ not-for-profit COVID-19 portfolio

Pharma plans to provide 15 generic and OTC drugs at zero-profit to up to 79 low- and middle-income countries under its latest pandemic initiative

July 17, 2020 1:00 AM UTC

The first therapy to show a mortality benefit in COVID-19 patients, dexamethasone, is among the 15 generic and over-the-counter drugs Novartis plans to provide at zero-profit to up to 79 low- and middle-income countries under its latest pandemic initiative.

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) did not disclose prices for any of the 15 drugs, which aim to treat a range of COVID-19 symptoms. At least nine are in clinical testing for COVID-19, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. ...