Indianapolis/Brussels, 4 May 2020
Statement delivered by: David Ricks, President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and CEO of Eli Lilly (2 minutes)
Greeting: My name is Dave Ricks. As the Chairman of IFPMA, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, and as CEO of Lilly, I am pleased to join you today for this important event.
The impact of COVID-19 – on our daily lives and livelihoods – is all too real. Never have the stakes been higher. Never before has the biopharmaceutical industry moved as quickly and decisively to channel our innovation and mobilize our knowhow in response to this pandemic. We are driven by a deep sense of responsibility towards patients and society as a whole.
Whether for vaccines or treatments, our companies have diverted considerable resources and brought together our best people to accelerate the development of new treatments and vaccines to contain COVID-19. We are collaborating widely to ensure that our expertise is shared across the scientific community as part of the global fight against this devastating virus.
All of us are stepping up and investing in R&D and manufacturing. IFPMA member companies have as many as 25 clinical trials under way and are investigating over 130 potential therapies. On top of the R&D that has been scaled up in response to the crisis at incredible speed, the industry has provided over $700m in donations and in-kind support during this crisis.
To ensure that nobody is left behind in facing this pandemic, industry is committed to working with governments and partners to make these treatments available and affordable for the patients that need them – wherever and whoever they may be. Our role as a Founding Partner of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator partnership is important given our unique position to find and scale up solutions for preventing and treating COVID-19.
The development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics is not enough, however. More than ever, we need effective international cooperation to ensure that no one is left behind in the race to end COVID-19. This cooperation requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder action that includes the private sector as a critical partner.
IFPMA members are fully committed to succeed in this extraordinary mission – together.
Thank you.
