Martin Shkreli Asks To Be Freed From Prison So He Can Cure Coronavirus

Martin Shkreli, who is in prison for seven years after being convicted for fraud and conspiracy, has a plan to defeat the Coronavirus. He just needs a little time out of prison to make it happen.

Shkreli co-authored a plan to fight the virus last week, and while other pharmaceutical companies are working on their own plans, Shrekli argues that all are inadequate and only he can save the world (in essence).

“I am one of the few executives experienced in ALL aspects of drug development from molecule creation and hypothesis generation, to preclinical assessments and clinical trial design/target engagement demonstration, and manufacturing/synthesis and global logistics and deployment of medicines,” he wrote in his plan. “I am asking for a brief furlough (3 months) to assist in research work on COVID-19,” he added.

So what is his master plan? Shkreli has posited that an antibiotic used to treat leprosy called clofazimine and seven other available drugs could be used to fight Coronavirus infection.

To Shkreli's credit, it's not a "crazy" idea, according to Derek Lowe a medicinal chemist well-known drug industry blogger, "but neither is it particularly groundbreaking." Lowe went on to write, “we’re not setting up another Manhattan Project, and we’re not looking for another Robert Oppenheimer, either."

“But from the tone of his comments, I’m not sure if he realizes either of those points.”