U.S. to invest another $1 bln in rapid COVID-19 tests (updated)

Celltrion

06/10/2021 20:53

(Adds additional context and commentary from press call)
    Oct 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. government is committing to
purchase an additional 180 million rapid COVID-19 tests for $1
billion, adding to the $2 billion test buying plan it announced
in September, a top U.S. health official said on Wednesday. 
    The combined purchases will help quadruple the United
States' test output by December to around 200 million tests per
month, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response
coordinator, said during a press call. 
    The government will also double the number of pharmacies it
partners with to provide free COVID-19 tests to 20,000
pharmacies, Zients added. 
    The U.S. government agreed in September to purchase $2
billion worth of rapid COVID-19 tests from Abbott Laboratories
 ABT.N  and Celltrion Inc  068270.KS  to ship to nursing homes
and other high risk populations as part of President Joe Biden's
plans to increase vaccinations and tests.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2QN2RQ
    The U.S. government also has agreements to purchase tests
from other manufacturers, including Quidel Corp.  QDEL.O ,
OraSure Technologies, and Intrivo.
    Earlier this week, U.S. regulators authorized another rapid
test from Acon Technologies that can be taken at home. Zients
said the test will retail for around $10 per test. 
    

 (Reporting by Carl O'Donnell; Editing by Leslie Adler and
Aurora Ellis)
 ((Carl.ODonnell@thomsonreuters.com; 646-223-6629;))