August 3: they knew that remdisivir was likely ineffective! but promoted it anyway.

June 15 update. I used to believe that impact of financial conflicts of interest was exaggerated. Apparently, that has changed over the last decade or two.

Influence of conflicts of interest on public positions in the COVID-19 era, the case of Gilead Sciences, Yanis Roussel, Didier Raoult, New Microbes and New Infections Journal, 2020-06-04:

In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic, several treatments are available to treat patients infected with the virus. Some are protected by patents, such as remdesivir, others are not, such as hydroxychloroquine. We wanted to observe the possible correlation between the fact, for an academic doctor in infectious diseases, of having benefited from funding by Gilead Sciences, producer of remdesivir, and the public positions taken by this doctor towards hydroxychloroquine. Our results show a correlation (correlation coefficient = 1) between the amount received from the Gilead Sciences company and public opposition to the use of hydroxychloroquine in France.

Correlation coefficient = 1 means a perfect correlation. It is still open to interpretation: whether cash from Gilead causes a doctor to talk negatively about HCQ, or the negative opinion about HCQ causes the doctor to flock to remdesivir and Gilead. That might be different for different doctors.

April 27

At least 7 (seven) members of the Panel on COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines, including 2 out of 3 Co-Chairs, have not disclosed their financial ties to Gilead Sciences (GILD), the patent owner and manufacturer of remdesivir. Continue reading COVID-19 Panel Gilead Ties →