Celebrities, world leaders and philanthropists pledged some 7.4 billion euros ($8.1bn) on Monday for research into coronavirus vaccines, treatments and testing during an EU-led video conference that was snubbed by the United States.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who hosted the conference, said a vaccine was the best chance of beating Covid-19, which has so far killed nearly a quarter of a million people around the world — 140,000 of them in Europe.
At least 3.5 million people are now known to have been infected.
Major European powers, along with Japan and Canada, made the biggest pledges but the lack of US representation raised the prospect of an uncoordinated competition to develop and produce a vaccine.
Some wealthy American individuals did take part, and pop star Madonna’s million-dollar contribution was feted by EU officials.
