USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted emergency use of remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment. The FDA allowed it as an experimental drug that shows fast recovery effectiveness in some coronavirus patients.
American President Donald Trump, on May 1, 2020, announced this news along with (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn. He further stated the drug would be available for coronavirus severely ill or hospitalized patients.
Remdesivir is the first medicine that has displayed positive aspects of fighting COVID-19, which has killed over 230,000 people globally.
Initially, it was an antiviral drug, previously researched as a potential treatment for Ebola, but it wasn’t effective eventually.
However, its approval for coronavirus treatment was mainly due to initial results from government-sponsored research conducted by Gilead Sciences Inc.
The study performed to 1,063 patients is the rigorous and most substantial test of the drug. The result indicated the drug decreased the recovery time by 31 percent, or four days on average, for severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Patients given remdesivir were discharged from the hospital within 11 days on average compared to 15 days for the comparison group.
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci of the US National Institutes of Health’s, the drug would become an additional standard of care for severely sick patients. However, researchers have not tested the drug on patients with milder illnesses that doctors inject into veins during therapeutic procedures.
Besides, the FDA approved the drug under its emergency authorities to accelerate the delivery of tests, experimental drugs, and other medical products in case of public health crises.
Side Effects of Remdesivir
The following are the possible side effects of the drug:
- Gastrointestinal upsets
- Low count of red blood cells and platelets
- Elevated levels in liver enzymes linked with inflammation or damage to the organ
- An infusion-related reaction, such as low blood pressure, nausea, shivering, and sweating.
Early Stages Alternative Drugs
The approval of remdesivir for emergency use is the second one announced for a drug to treat coronavirus. The first drugs, which include hydroxychloroquine phosphate and chloroquine sulfate, came in March. However, the FDA published a warning the following month against the extensive use of these two drugs after some patients died during a small clinical experiment in Brazil.
Currently, there is no formal approval of drugs to treat the coronavirus, and remdesivir will still require final authorization.
However, the FDA can switch its status to full approval provided that Gilead Sciences or other researchers give further data regarding the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir.
Usually, the FDA demands “substantial evidence” of a drug’s safety and usefulness. Typically, such evidence occurs only after approval from one or more large, strictly coordinated patient studies. However, during public health emergencies, the federal agency cannot claim such standards, merely demanding that an experimental drug’s possible benefits outweigh its risks.
A Word From The Recover
As expected, we are starting to appreciate some hope in the discovery regarding the coronavirus treatment. In the coming days, we should remain positive as we expect even more hopeful solutions for drugs that will cure this respiratory disease permanently.
Meanwhile, ensure to check our list of drug rehab directory for additional information regarding excellent medications for your health conditions.
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