Gilead Science Inc experimental drug, remdesivir has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an emergency treatment for coronavirus.
The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted authorization to Gilead Sciences for emergency use of its experimental antiviral drug remdesivir to treat patients with severe coronavirus who require oxygen.
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The drug trials have shown positive results as patients who were placed on remdesivir recover faster than those placed on placebo drugs, thereby shortening the mortality rate.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said at the White House: “From day one, the FDA has been committed to expediting the development and availability of potential COVID-19 treatments,
“Today’s action is an important step in our efforts to collaborate with innovators and researchers to provide sick patients timely access to new therapies where appropriate, while at the same time supporting research to further evaluate whether they are safe and effective.”
Vice President of Gilead, Mike Pence said 1.5 million vials would start being distributed to hospitals on Monday.
The company is working to rapidly scale up production and supply of remdesivir.
According to the terms of the emergency authorization by the FDA, the drug is suggested for either a 5-day or 10-day treatment, depending on the severity of the case.
The US government will coordinate the donation and distribution of the drug to hospitals in the cities most affected by the virus.