Recently, the experimental COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir, showed positive signs, according to research. This antiviral was used to treat Ebola patients. But, experts warn us not to take any drugs unless prescribed by a doctor. Remdesivir still needs regulatory approval as a COVID-19 treatment. The research is based on information from patients who got remdesivir from January 25, 2020, through March 7, 2020.
What We Know About Remdesivir
Remdesivir is one of the drugs the US uses to contain the pandemic. FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn and President Donald Trump discussed recently under testing drugs, such as chloroquine(used to treat malaria) and remdesivir.
Gilead CEO, Daniel O’Day detailed that seven clinical tests have been set up to prove remdesivir is an effective and safe treatment for COVID-19.
China began the first two types of research back in February, and the other five tests have been initiated worldwide, according to O’Day. Remdesivir was used for patients with severe illnesses and those with more moderate symptoms.
Remdesivir Shows Promising Results as a COVID-19 Treatment
O’Day stated: “In this cohort of patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 who were treated with compassionate-use remdesivir, clinical improvement was observed in 36 of 53 patients (68 % ).”
Next month, Gilead expects to receive information from the NIAID examination, which is placebo-managed, as well as its research of patients with moderate symptoms of COVID-19.
Back in March, Gilead declared changes to its treatment trial. The company added the “expanded access” schedule to establish physicians and hospitals to employ for emergency use of remdesivir for many patients with COVID-19 at a time. The prior sympathetic use program is now developed for pregnant women and children.
O’Day also discussed a ramp-up of the experimental COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir, production, a process that needs various chain reactions and specialized chemistry. However, we still need to wait for more data and positive results.
