Many studies are underway on remdesivir, an antiviral from the American laboratory Gilead Sciences, to find out its potential effect on patients with Covid-19. The drug is part of the large European clinical trial Discovery. It has also been tested in China on 237 patients. But, according to the Financial Times, which reported results published prematurely on the WHO site, its effect was deemed disappointing, as it "does not reduce the presence of the pathogen in the blood system".
Another bell on Wednesday, since the Gilead laboratory announced that its remdesivir had shown "positive" results in patients of Covid-19 in the framework of another large, highly anticipated clinical trial, conducted in partnership with the Institutes of American health. He compares remdesivir to a placebo, and has covered 800 patients in the United States since February 21.
"Gilead Sciences is aware of positive data from the study conducted by the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases on its antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19," said the company, which however did not deliver any additional detail.
During the daily briefing on the coronavirus at the White House, an expert confirmed this optimism, indicating that the remdesivir had shown a "clear" effect in the treatment of the coronavirus.
"No significant clinical benefit"
A diametrically opposite opinion from that of a study published in the medical journal The Lancet, which considers that the drug has "no significant clinical benefit", according to her.
"Remdesivir treatment does not accelerate healing or reduce mortality from Covid-19 compared to placebo," says the study from China. It was the results of the latter, which had leaked on the WHO site, that we mentioned earlier. This time, they are made official by this scientific publication.
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Many clinical trials are underway around the world to find an effective treatment for Covid-19. Remdesivir, a drug originally developed for Ebola, but never approved for any disease, is one of the avenues, alongside other antivirals or hydroxychloroquine.
