FDA Authorizes Remdesivir For Emergency Use In COVID-19 Patients

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of remdesivir, an experimental anti-viral drug, to treat COVID-19.

According to Reuters, this was disclosed by the U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday.

The drug was developed by the pharmaceutical company Gilead to treat Ebola.

Prior to this authorization, doctors could only treat COVID-19 patients with remdesivir by enrolling them in clinical trials.

However the authorization comes two days after data from a trial suggested the experimental drug can help patients recover faster

Under the authorization, the drug can be used to treat patients whose cases are severe to the extent of requiring oxygen or placed on ventilators.

Meanwhile the the Agency clarified that emergency authorization does not mean that the drug is FDA-approved, adding that the approval can only come after a detailed review showing it can safely and effectively treat the virus.