- Gilead is expanding on its access to the experimental anti-coronavirus drug remdesivir in order to accelerate the emergency use for multiple severely ill patients
Gilead is expanding on its access to the experimental anti-coronavirus drug remdesivir in order to accelerate the emergency use for multiple severely ill patients, according to Bloomberg. Specifically, Gilead is switching to “expanded access” from a “compassionate use” program where remdesivir was given to over 1,000 Covid-19 patients.
“With expanded access, hospitals or physicians can apply for emergency use of remdesivir for multiple severely ill patients at a time,” wrote Gilead chairman and chief executive officer Daniel O’Day in a letter sent by email over the weekend. “While it will take some time to build a network of active sites, this approach will ultimately accelerate emergency access for more people.”
Remdesivir is considered to be one of the most promising therapeutic candidates based on the broad antiviral spectrum among the different options, according to a panel at the World Health Organization.
Originally, the medication was developed for Ebola. And it was studied with patients in Eastern Congo. It was also studied in mice, which showed superior efficacy over Kaletra + IFNbeta.
Gilead will work to ensure the affordability and access if it is approved.
“The urgency comes from knowing the desperate need among patients and the lack of any approved treatment,” added O’Day. “The responsibility is to ensure that remdesivir, an investigational medicine, is effective and safe before it is distributed for use worldwide.”
