U.S. FDA approves Gilead's remdesivir as COVID-19 treatment

Source: Xinhua| 2020-10-23 07:26:14|Editor: huaxia

Medical workers transport a patient at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 27, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Veklury (remdesivir) is now the first and only approved COVID-19 treatment in the United States, said Gilead.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved Gilead Sciences' antiviral drug Veklury (remdesivir) as a treatment for COVID-19.

Previously authorized by the FDA for emergency use to treat COVID-19, Veklury is now the first and only approved COVID-19 treatment in the United States, said Gilead in a statement.

Veklury is indicated for adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg) for the treatment of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, Gilead said.

Clinical trials show Veklury shortened time to recovery by five days in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to the company.

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