US allows emergency utilization of the drug remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment
03 May, 2020
US regulators said Friday that they have authorized the emergency make use of the experimental anti-viral drug remdesivir for treating coronavirus patients, saying that clinical trials have showed "promising results."
"While there is limited information known about the safety and effectiveness of using remdesivir to take care of people in the hospital with COVID-19, the investigational drug was proven in a clinical trial to shorten the time to recovery in some patients," the united states Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.
The move, that will enable the drug to be used for all those hospitalized with severe illness caused by the brand new coronavirus, is a "significant step" forward in battling the pandemic, Secretary of Health insurance and Human Services Alex Azar said in a statement.
The business said it aims to create at least 500,000 treatment courses by October, 1 million treatment courses by December and millions more in 2021, if required.
Remdesivir was developed by US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences just as one treatment for Ebola, nonetheless it has not been qualified or approved anywhere globally.
Clinical trials have been under way to verify the effectiveness and safety of its use for coronavirus patients around the world, including Japan.
JAPAN government is looking to fast-track its approval. The drug is likely to be accessible in Japan as soon as this month, a government official said.
Beneath the emergency use authorization, remdesivir will be distributed in the United States and administered intravenously by healthcare providers for patients with low blood oxygen levels and those needing oxygen therapy or even more intensive breathing support for instance a mechanical ventilator.
More than 1 million people in the usa have already been infected with the coronavirus, with the country's death toll exceeding 64,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Globally, there have been more than 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness due to the virus, and a lot more than 230,000 deaths.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
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