Gilead’s Remdesivir Shows Promise in Severe COVID-19 Cohort

Early analysis of Gilead’s experimental drug remdesivir in severe COVID-19 infections has shown a 68% improvement in a group of severely ill patients. The drug is being used in a compassionate setting and there’s no comparison group.

The results published by the New England Journal of Medicine are the first in COVID-19 patients for remdesivir.  

Of the 53 patients whose data were analyzed, 22 were in the U.S., 22 in Europe or Canada, and 9 in Japan. At baseline, 30 patients (57%) were receiving mechanical ventilation and 4 (8%) were receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. During a median follow-up of 18 days, 36 patients (68%) had an improvement in oxygen-support class, including 17 of 30 patients (57%) receiving mechanical ventilation who were extubated. A total of 25 patients (47%) were discharged, and 7 patients (13%) died; mortality was 18% (6 of 34) among patients receiving invasive ventilation and 5% (1 of 19) among those not receiving invasive ventilation.

In this cohort of patients hospitalized for severe Covid-19 who were treated with compassionate-use remdesivir, clinical improvement was observed in 36 of 53 patients (68%). Measurement of efficacy will require ongoing randomized, placebo-controlled trials of remdesivir therapy. Results are of 53 patients ages 23 to 82.

At least five large studies evaluating remdesivir are currently underway. Results from more thorough studies are expected later this month.