Gilead hopes to make $500M this year from remdesivir, and $1.2B next year.
If the gov't used the Liz Warren strategy of getting an equity stake, the US could have recovered all its investment. If for its $70M the US got a 10% or 20% stake in the drug. That could bring in between $50M -$100M this year and potentially another $120M-$240M next year. Money that could fund other drug research. In thsoe early stages when remdesivir was an orphan drug, Gilead likely would have given 10% or more for the research funding.
Also, I would pass a law that Gilead has to pay the corporate rate (25% or at least a minimum of 15%) on remdesivir profits, without allowing them to zero out their corporate taxes with accounting maneuvers. That's be another $100M the gov't would receive this year and over $200M next.
Have to stop socializing risks and privatizing profits. And make sure companies pay taxes.