Pratt Foundation donates $1M toward COVID-19 treatment

The Pratt Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Australia-based packaging company Visy Industries, has announced that it is donating $1 million to fund the trial of two drugs that may help COVID-19 patients. The donation is led by Anthony Pratt, chairman of Visy Industries and Pratt Industries, which offers packaging and recycling services across the world.

The $1 million donation went to the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne, which will be used in a trial of existing HIV and arthritis drugs that could be used to treat COVID-19. According to a news release from Visy Industries, the trial will involve 2,440 people over 60 days in 60 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand. 

Overall, the trial costs $6.7 million, U.K.-based newspaper The Daily Mail states in a news release. The Daily Mail also reports that Pratt issued a “call to arms” to the wealthiest individuals in Australia to fight against COVID-19 by offering help. Pratt has an estimated fortune of $16.95 billion. There are currently 4,860 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia.