Studies have shown that the antiviral medication can reduce recovery times for people who are hospitalized with COVID-19, but questions persist about how effective it may be.
On October 22, Veklury (remdesivir) became the first medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.
The FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) for remdesivir back in May, a step that allowed physicians to utilize the drug before researchers had completed rigorous testing. According to the National Institutes of Health, EUAs are issued when there is a reasonable belief that a medical product is going to be effective in treating a life-threatening illness.
After three major studies demonstrated that remdesivir was both safe and effective in shortening recovery time for people hospitalized with COVID-19, the FDA issued its approval.
“The drug can now be openly prescribed by healthcare providers for patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 infection, so I think that’s definitely a step forward,” says Susan Kline, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases and international medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and a principal investigator for one of the studies.
Here’s what you need to know about why the FDA approved remdesivir, who should take it, how it’s administered, and what patients can expect in terms of results and potential side effects.
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