FDA response to active supply chain surveillance amid outbreak
The FDA states that it is aware of the likely impact on the medical product supply chain, including potential disruptions to supply or shortages of critical medical products in the U.S., due to the coronavirus outbreak. The FDA states that it is not waiting for drug and device manufacturers to report shortages, but is proactively reaching out to manufacturers as part of its approach to identifying potential disruptions or shortages. It has dedicated additional resources to review and coordinate data to better identify any potential vulnerabilities to the U.S. medical product sector. Finally, it confirms that it has been in contact with hundreds of manufacturers of human and animal drugs and medical devices, as well as syncing up with global regulators, like the European Medicines Agency, to assess and monitor for indications and early warning signs of potential manufacturing discontinuances or interruptions due to the outbreak. Read more from the FDA here.
Death toll in China crests 1,700, new cases bring total to over 70,000
The death toll in mainland China reached 1,770 on Sunday, up 105 from the previous day. There were also 2,048 new cases, bringing the total count to 70,548. In the Hubei province, 1,933 new cases and 100 new deaths were reported – the lowest daily death count since Feb. 11. Read more updates here.
Fourteen infected Americans from Japanese cruise ship allowed to board flights to U.S.
Fourteen evacuated Americans from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan were allowed to board a flight back to the U.S. after testing positive for coronavirus because they did not have symptoms. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, had earlier stressed on CBS’ Face the Nation Sunday that Americans who tested positive would not be among the evacuees to the U.S. The two charter flights carrying 340 Diamond Princess passengers from Japan landed Travis Air Force Base in Northern California and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas overnight. The passengers will be quarantined at the military bases. Read more here.
Chinese university develops rapid test kit for coronavirus
A Chinese university has announced a coronavirus detection kit can identify infections in just 15 minutes. The kit – called Novel Coronavirus IgM/IgG – was developed by Nankai University in Tianjin in cooperation with experts from other schools and biopharmaceutical companies in the country. Nankai University said its test kits is expected to soon be employed in epidemic prevention and control. Read more here.
Worldwide concern for drug shortages grows as outbreak continues
China is the largest producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the world and is the starting point in the global supply chain for many products. Some drugmakers in China have restarted production after an extended break for the Chinese New Year, but worldwide governments are trying to determine whether drug shortages will result from the continued coronavirus outbreak. Concerns were raised by health ministers from France and Finland at an emergency meeting Brussels (Belgium) about shortages. The FDA has stated that it is vigilant about added resources and is monitoring the situation closely. Historically, the FDA and drugmakers have turned to alternate suppliers to help make up shortfalls. Read more here.
Economist warns coronavirus outbreak could threaten future of globalization
Neil Shearing, chief economist from research company Capital Economics, has warned that there are signs the economic disruption to China from the coronavirus outbreak was spreading to other countries. Shearing points to the biggest slump in Chinese exports to South Korea since the Asia financial crisis in 1999 and that a prolonged shutdown might mean that lost output in China would never be recovered. Factory closures in China mean a shortage of component parts which would cause companies to reassess large and complex supply chains. “Maintaining supply chains eats up a lot of firms’ working capital,” Shearing told Newsweek. “The economics made sense in a world of free trade and without alternative technologies. But a shift towards more greater trade barriers, coupled with new technologies that allow firms to reshore some aspects of production, may mean firms start to shorten supply chains.” China’s central bank plans to inject 1.2 trillion yuan ($173 billion) in the markets to stabilize asset prices. It is also planning targeted tax cuts and an increase of government spending. Read more here.
More coronavirus resources from The Journal of Healthcare Contracting:
- Day-by-day Timeline of major events
- FAQ/Insights – Helpful and relevant links to help you keep track of the ongoing epidemic