Days ago, Gilead’s COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be a flop.
In fact, STAT News said Gilead (GILD) experimental drug remdesivir saw “rapid recoveries in fever and respiratory symptoms with nearly all patients discharged in less than a week.”
Of course, GILD soared on the news.
However, according to Financial Times, the drug may have flopped in its first clinical trial.
“A potential antiviral drug for the coronavirus has flopped in its first randomised clinical trial, disappointing scientists and investors who had high hopes for remdesivir, according to draft documents published accidentally by the World Health Organization and seen by the Financial Times,” as reported.
In fact, it was reported that a trial did not improve patient conditions or reduce pathogens in the bloodstream. The drug also showed “significant” side effects in some.
However, there is some good news.
The company just said preliminary results of a COVID-19 vaccine trial “showed at least 50% of patients treated with a 5-day dosage of antiviral drug remdesivir improved and more than half were discharged from the hospital within two weeks,” as noted by CNBC. “The company also said another trial by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases met its main goal.”
“These data are encouraging as they indicate that patients who received a shorter, 5-day course of remdesivir experienced similar clinical improvement as patients who received a 10-day treatment course,” said Aruna Subramanian, a lead investigator of the study.
