With various drugs already tested against the virus, Gilead Sciences’ drug called Remdesivir is now believed to be one of the most promising solutions against the COVID-19.
Even as China is steadily coming to normalcy, the number of deaths claimed by coronavirus across the world just keeps soaring. With a possible vaccine expected to be at least a year away, countries have been trying various drugs against the coronavirus. While drugs like hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir have created a buzz, they are known to be offering only short term solutions. Amid all the ongoing researches, Gilead Science Inc.’s experimental drug remdesivir has shown some positive long term results against COVID-19. So, has the world finally found a weapon against the novel coronavirus?
Highlights! Is Gilead’s experimental drug the potential cure against novel coronavirus?
- Will remdesivir offer the ultimate solution against COVID-19?
- Gilead’s experimental drug is believed to be a cheap and effective solution against the virus.
- Doubts over remdesivir’s results expected to be cleared post its clinical trail outcomes.
Will remdesivir offer the ultimate solution?
Gilead Science Inc., an American biotechnology company, has been lately experimenting on a drug called remdesivir. The drug has shown promise in dealing with severe cases of COVID-19. As a result, remdesivir is now raising hopes for being the first potential treatment against novel coronavirus.
The drug was experimented on 53 COVID-19 patients for a period of 10 days on a compassionate use basis. With 68% of these patients recovering fully, the ability of the drug in dealing with novel coronavirus has proved to be quite noteworthy. Also, many of the patients on mechanical ventilation were able to get off the breathing device.
Jonathan Grein, the director of hospital epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is quite optimistic of remdesivir offering a solution against COVID-19.
“We cannot draw definitive conclusions from these data, but the observations from this group of hospitalized patients who received remdesivir are hopeful.” – Jonathan Grein
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A cheap and effective solution for COVID-19
Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, is believed to be one of the most promising solutions against COVID-19 to enter human trials to date. While being safe and effective, the drug is also expected to be quite cheap costing only $9 for a treatment.
However, being an intravenous infusion, there would be additional costs to administer remdesiver which are likely to exceed the estimated manufacturing cost.
Skepticism over remdesivir results
While remdesivir has shown some positive signs in the battle against coronavirus, there are many who are still doubtful over its results.
Stephen Evans, a professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, “There is some evidence suggesting efficacy, but we simply do not know what would have happened to these patients had they not been given the drug.”
Questions to be answered
With no proven treatment against coronavirus infection as of now, the skepticism over remdesivir’s effective use is quite understandable.
Even Daniel O’Day, Gilead’s CEO and chairman, believes something on a similar line.
“Many answers are needed, which is why we need multiple types of studies involving many types of patients.” – Daniel O’Day on Remdesivir’s future
Gilead Science Inc. is continuously working on the drug so as to improve its safety and effectiveness. Before the drug finally administers, the company needs to answer several questions. And many of these answers will emerge post the release of initial data from various initial clinical trials underway.
The world will hope that Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir becomes the first drug to offer a complete remedy against the novel coronavirus. As of now, fingers crossed!
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