Is Remdesivir a Disappointment?
Many people who are closely following developments in the COVID-19 pandemic are familiar with remdesivir. Gilead Sciences' (NASDAQ: GILD) investigational antiviral drug has been seen by many as a promising treatment option for the coronavirus. In February, Bruce Aylward of the World Health Organization said, "There is only one drug right now that we think may have real efficacy and that's remdesivir." However, hope for remdesivir's efficacy in the fight against COVID-19 may be fading.
On May 1, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for remdesivir to treat patients with severe COVID-19. And with more patients being treated with remdesivir, there's more data available to help gauge its effectiveness. But the latest results, although encouraging, may not be what investors hoped for when they invested in Gilead.
On June 1, Gilead released results from a phase 3 trial. The study involved patients with a moderate form of COVID-19 in which they're hospitalized but didn't require ventilators. Patients were either on five-day or 10-day treatment courses.
Source Fool.com
