US-based health system Providence has reported that Gilead Sciences’ anti-viral drug, remdesivir, reduced mortality by 40% compared with best supportive care in hospitalised Covid-19 patients who were receiving low flow oxygen.
The study had 286 subjects on remdesivir and 852 participants on best supportive care, with all of them enrolled between 28 February and 28 May last year.
Nearly 400 subjects were given hydroxychloroquine as best supportive care in the study.
Providence noted that the study was carried out when remdesivir was not used as the standard-of-care and before the drug received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA authorisation was based on enhanced time to recovery but the drug’s effect on mortality improvement is yet to be determined.
In the latest study, apart from mortality reduction, the remdesivir treatment indicated effectiveness during the virological phase and prior to substantial
development of hyperinflammation, as defined for the dynamic and bimodal Covid-19 disease process.
Providence antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention medical director George Diaz said: “These findings are significant because they highlight the urgent need to define optimal treatment of Covid-19.
“It shows that remdesivir was associated with lower mortality compared to best supportive care for certain patients.
Providence noted that the study was carried out when remdesivir was not used as the standard-of-care and before the drug received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA authorisation was based on enhanced time to recovery but the drug’s effect on mortality improvement is yet to be determined.
In the latest study, apart from mortality reduction, the remdesivir treatment indicated effectiveness during the virological phase and prior to substantial
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