Coronavirus: United States First to Use Remdesivir

Text by: Heike Schmidt

The United States is the first to use this new treatment for Covid-19 on a large scale. The American Medicines Agency (FDA) has granted emergency authorization for the experimental antiviral remdesivir produced by the pharmaceutical laboratory Gilead, which will donate 1.5 million doses, enough to treat at least 140,000 patients.

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From Monday, the remdesivir will be distributed to hospitals in the most affected cities, reserved for severely Covid-19 patients who need oxygen.

Will this antiviral which had failed against Ebola haemorrhagic fever, be able to successfully treat patients infected with the new coronavirus? In a trial with a thousand patients, remdesivir shortened recovery time by 15 to 11 days, and reduced the risk of dying very slightly. Far from being spectacular, experts say who do not see it as a magic weapon against the Covid-19.

But for lack of anything better, President Donald Trump - in a hurry to restart the economy - seems to be even a breath of fresh air and an argument to justify the start of deconfinement.

Almost half of the 50 American states have already relaxed the restrictions, like Texas where restaurants, cinemas and shopping centers are open again. However, the day before, this southern state had recorded its deadliest day since the start of the epidemic.

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