Remdesivir

April 10, 2020

Medicine

formuladrugs.com

0 Comment

Remdesivir is a novel antiviral drug that is in the class of nucleotide analogs. This drug is an investigational antiviral compound undergoing clinical trials in China and United States. This is considered to have a potential in treating COVID-19 previously known as 2019 Novel Coronavirus respiratory disease.

COVID-19 is caused by the new coronavirus that emerged in China last year 2019. Coronaviruses are a type of virus that has different kinds which some cause disease. A newly identified type has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness that has spread throughout the world. Coronavirus is named for its appearance. Under the microscope, the virus looks like they are covered with a pointed structure that surrounds them like a corona or crown. Viruses are named based on their genetic structure to facilitate the development of diagnostic vaccines, tests, and medicines. The disease is named to enable discussion on disease prevention, spread, transmissibility, treatment, and severity. The symptoms of COVID-19 may include:
⦁ Tiredness
⦁ Fever
⦁ Dry cough
Some patients may also experience:
⦁ Diarrhea
⦁ Sore throat
⦁ Runny nose
⦁ Nasal congestion
⦁ Aches and pains

This infection is spread from person to person. It may be through small droplets from the one who is infected through sneezing or coughing. The droplets can land on surfaces around the person and objects.

Facts about the drug:
⦁ It could inhibit replication of the coronaviruses that cause severe infections in human lung cells.
⦁ It is developed by Gilead Sciences Inc. for an investigational broad-spectrum antiviral treatment.
⦁ It has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against the viral pathogens that cause SARS and MERS. These are coronaviruses that are structurally similar to SARS-CoV-2 which is known as COVID-19.
SARS – was identified in 2002 and caused an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
MERS – was identified in 2012 and caused the middle east respiratory syndrome.

How they are going to use Remdesivir in their study?

1. Participants in the trial must have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and evidence involvement (rattling sounds when breathing or illness requiring mechanical ventilation).
2. All potential participants will undergo a baseline physical exam before receiving treatment.
3. Participants will receive 200 mg of Remdesivir intravenously on the first day of enrollment study.
4. They will receive another 100 mg each day for the duration of hospitalization for up to 10 days total.

The study is double-blind which means trial investigators and participants would not know who is receiving Remdesivir. Clinicians will regularly monitor participants and will assign them daily scores based on a predefined scale of clinical outcomes. Wherein, it considers factors such as blood pressure, temperature, and use of supplemental oxygen. Initially, they will compare participant outcomes on day 15. Outcomes are scored on a seven-point scale that ranges from fully recovered to death. They will reevaluate the scale after reviewing data from the first group of participants. This drug is not yet approved for use in treating COVID-19, but the medical officials are doing their best in studies to find a vaccine for the disease.