About 70% of critically ill patients infected with the new coronavirus responded to an unapproved antiviral drug called remdesivir, an interntional research team has found.
The finding was reported in a U.S. medical journal by the team, which includes members from Japan, the United States and Europe. The team said it still needs to verify the results of the tests because few patients are being tested, among other problems.
Remdesivir was originally developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. for the treatment of Ebola. Based on the results of basic research, this drug is a candidate for the treatment of people infected with the new coronavirus.
Between January and March this year, the team administered remdesivir by intravenous drip to 61 people who had developed severe pneumonia in locations including Japan, the United States and Europe. Analysis of 53 men and women aged 23 to 82 for whom data was available found that 36 patients, or 68%, showed improved respiratory status. Of this number, 25, or almost half, were discharged from the hospital, while seven died. Kidney damage was observed in 32 patients, or 60%.
Remdesivir is currently undergoing an international clinical trial led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, in which Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo is participating.
Gilead Sciences is also conducting its own separate trials.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
