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 The department of health said that early data from clinical trials
around the world showed that the drug could shorten the recovery
time of COVID-19 patients by four days.
"As we navigate this unprecedented period, we must be on the front
foot of the latest medical advancements, while always ensuring
patient safety remains a top priority," junior health minister James
Bethell said.
"We will continue to monitor remdesivir’s success in clinical trials
across the country to ensure the best results for UK patients."
The government said that the allocation of the drugs would be
determined by where they would have the greatest benefit, but did
not say how many patients would be treated under the arrangement.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) last week said that
data from its trial of remdesivir showed that the drug offers the
most benefit for COVID-19 patients who need extra oxygen but do not
require mechanical ventilation.
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The researchers also said that "given high mortality despite the use of
remdesivir," it is likely that the antiviral drug would be more effective in
combination with other treatments for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused
by the novel coronavirus.
Gilead said it expects results from its own study of remdesivir in patients with
moderate COVID-19 at the end of this month.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout and Kate Holton; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
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