Gilead’s Phase III Remdesevir Trial Shows Benefits In Some Coronavirus Patients

Gilead Sciences released results from the Phase III clinical trial of its leading coronavirus drug remdesivir on Monday, June 01. The data from the trial shows that the antiviral drug helped some moderately sick patients with COVID-19.

The Phase III clinical trial for remdesivir involves two sets of patients. The first group received either a five-day or 10-day course of remdesivir, in addition to the standard care. The second group received only standard care and no antiviral drug.

The data from both groups of patients were compared. It was observed that the first group of patients with a moderate form of coronavirus disease who received a five-day remdesivir course were 65 percent more likely to recover by the eleventh day as compared to the group that only received standard care.

When it comes to the segment of people in the first group who received a 10-day course, the researchers note that there was some improvement but the variation was not statistically significant.

“Today’s results showed that when treating moderate disease, a 5-day course of remdesivir led to greater clinical improvement than the standard of care, adding further evidence of remdesivir’s benefit to previously released study results,” Gilead said in a statement.

Even though the drug showed benefits in people with a moderate form of COVID-19, questions concerning its efficacy against coronavirus are likely to increase. A moderate coronavirus disease means that the patient may be hospitalized but does not require ventilator support.

Throughout the three clinical trials, remdesivir was well-tolerated by the patients. Remdesivir has proven to be beneficial against other outbreaks caused by coronaviruses in the past, including SARS and MERS. A few countries, including the U.S. and China, are already using remdesivir, hoping to improve the outcome in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Earlier on May 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for remdesivir so that it can be used by doctors for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

Ever since the company announced the results of Phase III clinical trials of remdesivir, its shares fell by four percent.