Some Caution Over 'People’s Hope' Remdesivir As China Trials Progress

Although Gilead’s remdesivir shows promise against the coronavirus, efficacy is not guaranteed, one antiviral company executive tells Scrip, as multiple other potential therapies and vaccines move forward.

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REMDESIVIR CORONAVIRUS EFFICACY NOT GUARANTEED • Source: Shutterstock

While clinical studies are still ongoing for Gilead Sciences Inc.'s remdesivir in China, there is already high hope in the country that the antiviral will be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

A trial initiated in early February in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the outbreak, is being led by Bin Cao, vice-president of the Sino Japan Friendship Hospital as primary investigator. In a recent media interview, Cao noted strong comparative antiviral activity for the Gilead molecule, first developed for the Ebola virus

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