COVID-19: US Says Trial Vaccine, Remdesivir, Effective In Treatment Of Coronavirus

There appears to have been a significant breakthrough in the search for the vaccine that will cure the the virulent coronavirus infection which has brought the world to its knee.

US National Institute of Health on Wednesday said that an experimental drug, Remdesivir, has proved effective against the new Coronavirus disease.

 

The White House health advisor and top US infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, said data collected from the Coronavirus drug trial with Remdesivir showed ‘quite good news’ and has set a new standard of care for COVID-19 patients.

 

Fauci added that the study led by the US National Institute of Health, revealed that the drug drastically reduces the period it takes for patients to recover by four days on average, noting that it is the first drug to overcome such a rigorous test against the virus.

 

He also said that the drug led to fewer deaths among COVID-19 patients.

 

“What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.

 

“This will be the standard of care,” he added.

 

CNN reports that Dr. Mark Denison, a professor at Vanderbilt University whose laboratory first tested Remdesivir, said they were excited and optimistic that the drug will be effective.

 

“It is active against every Coronavirus that we have ever tested.

 

“It was very hard for the virus to develop resistance to Remdesivir.

 

“That means the drug would likely be effective over longer-term use,” he said.

 

A statement from the US Food and Drug Administration also disclosed that the agency is in touch with California-based Gilead regarding making Remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible.