Coronavirus drug remdesivir

shows 'clear-cut positive

effect' in US trial
Experimental antiviral remdesivir holds promise as a
treatment for COVID-19 -- but questions remain.

Jackson Ryan 

April 29, 2020 5:18 p.m. PT



19
Gilead Sciences' experimental drug remdesivir has been floated as a coronavirus
treatment since the earliest days of the pandemic. 
Ulrich Perry/Getty
For the most up-to-date news and information about the
coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.

Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug produced by biotech

firm Gilead Sciences, has been one of the most talked about
treatment options for COVID-19, even in the face of conflicting
reports about its potential. On Wednesday, the US National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said preliminary data
from a US-based clinical trial showed it can help patients recover
from the coronavirus faster. 

The preliminary findings were shared by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the

director of the NIAID, during a press briefing at the White House
on Wednesday. Fauci said the early results are "a very important
proof-of-concept because what it has proven is that a drug can
block this virus." However, the full peer-reviewed data from the
trial are yet to be released but will be available in a forthcoming
report, according to NIAID.
CNET CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Keep track of the coronavirus pandemic.

SIGN ME UP!
By signing up, you agree to the CBS Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

Remdesivir isn't specifically designed to destroy SARS-CoV-2, the

virus that causes COVID-19. Instead, it knocks out a specific piece
of machinery viruses use to replicate, known as "RNA
polymerase." It was originally designed as a drug to treat Ebola,
but when trialed, it turned out to be mostly unsuccessful. In 2017,
a study published in the journal Science showed remdesivir to
be effective against human coronaviruses in cells and mouse
models. 

The drug continued to show some benefit against coronaviruses

in rhesus macaques and in smaller groups of patients with
COVID-19, but larger studies in humans were called for. 

The NIAID trial is the most comprehensive to date, enrolling more

than 1,000 patients to test whether it will be a useful tool in patient
care. There are two important takeaways from the preliminary
findings. Patients who received remdesivir:

 had a 31% faster recovery time than patients who received

the placebo
 had a slight, but statistically insignificant, improvement in
survival -- the mortality rate was 8% compared with 11.6% for
patients who received the placebo.