Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral
drug, remdesivir, prevented lung disease in macaques infected
with the new coronavirus, according to a study published in
medical journal Nature on Tuesday.
Remdesivir has been cleared for emergency use in
severely-ill patients in the United States, India and South
Korea. Some European nations are also using it under
compassionate programs.
Trials of the drug in humans are ongoing, and early data has
shown the drug helped patients recover more quickly from the
illness caused by the new coronavirus.
In the study, 12 monkeys were deliberately infected with the
coronavirus, and half of them were given early treatment with
remdesivir.
A lab technician visually inspects a filled vial of investigational remdesivir at a Gilead Sciences facility. Picture: Reuters
Macaques that received remdesivir did not show signs of
respiratory disease and had reduced damage to the lungs,
according to the study authors.