LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease experts say studies show antiviral treatment Remdesivir has promise for treating COVID-19 patients.
Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says there were no statistically significant indications that it impacts overall mortality, but it does have its uses.
“In fairly severe individuals there was a reduction in the length in time the hospital for patients who got Remdesivir,” said Figueroa.
National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Dr. Anthony Fauci says Remdesivir is not a cure for COVID-19 but will become the “standard of care” for infected patients.
Remdesivir was originally developed by Gilead Sciences to treat Ebola patients. Figueroa says it wasn’t very successful in that application, but it seems to help those infected by coronavirus.
“It is an anti-viral drug that actually inhibits viral replication,” said Figueroa.
Figueroa says they are currently using it under the FDA’s Expanded Access Program, which permits the use of investigational drugs outside of a clinical trial.
Figueroa says Remdesivir is not a prophylactic treatment and requires a patient to receive an intravenous dose every day, and unfortunately, supply may be limited.
“There would also be some capability to target certain populations that would benefit the most or would be at the highest risk of bad outcomes,” said Figueroa.
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