Anthony Pratt to spend $1 million funding the trial of two drugs that may treat COVID-19
April 1, 2020
AUSTRALIA (From news reports) -- Australia's richest man Anthony Pratt has donated $1million to fund the trial of two drugs that may help patients suffering from COVID-19.
The drugs, used in the treatment of HIV and arthritis, will be trialled by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne on Monday.
Mr Pratt, who is the billionaire chairman of packaging companies Visy Industries and Pratt Industries, also issued 'a call to arms' to Australia's wealthiest to join the fight against COVID-19, as the number of confirmed cases hit 4,514.
'Bushfires unfortunately happen every year but this is a one-in-100-year event, so this is a call to arms for people to contribute more now,' he said.
'We are hoping for a silver-bullet solution. We need to do something, and preferably something within 60 days.
The Melbourne businessman, who has an estimated fortune of $16.95billion, said people who can help should step up in this situation.
Doherty Institute director Sharon Lewin said the trial involves the HIV drug Kaletra and arthritis drug Hydroxychloroquine.
The trial involves giving patients, who are in hospital but not intensive care, the two drugs and monitoring their condition with those who were not given drugs.
The 60-day trial would take place in 60 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, involving 2,440 people and costing $6.7million.
The donation from Mr Pratt brings the total to to $3million.
'What is unprecedented is we are talking about making this available to all Australians if possible, but it needs to be studied and the only way to do that is in a larger study,' Professor Lewin said.
He said it can take months to get funding from the government for medical trials, highlighting the importance of philanthropy in moving the process along.
Mr Pratt's donation comes after Doherty Institute scientists grew coronavirus in a high-security lab in January after taking a sample from a man who was diagnosed with the infection.
They were the second lab to grow the virus after one in China was able to cultivate it.
Mining billionaire Clive Palmer also donated $1million to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital's Coronavirus Action Fund.
