Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes that the remdesivir antiviral drug is the “very first step” in finding out how to effectively treat the COVID-19 virus.
A government-run study revealed recently that remdesivir helped improve outcomes of those infected with the virus. Fauci appeared on NBC’s TODAY on Thursday to elaborate on the drug and to share what he thinks will happen moving forward.
According to Fauci, results have showed a “31 percent better chance” of a patient’s recovering. He did stress, however, that remdesivir is not the end-all cure for COVID-19.
“Although the results were clearly positive from a statistical standpoint, they were modest,” he said. “That’s important, but it’s the first step in what we project will be better and better drugs coming along. Either alone, or in combination, drugs of this type and addressing other targets of the virus.
“It’s good news but I was very serious when I said this is not the total answer by any means. But it’s a very important first step’”
According to the New York Times, the FDA has been discussing the approval of the antiviral drug to treat those infected with COVID-19 under “emergency use provisions.” Fauci — who said he spoke with the commissioner of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, recently — believes the FDA are going to start moving very quickly.
“I was speaking with [Hahn] yesterday evening and he’s moving along very quickly. They have not yet made a final decision, they have not announced it. But I can project we’re going to be seeing that reasonably soon.”
With a vaccine to combat COVID-19 still a ways off — FDA commissioner Hahn tells Fox News the agency has authorized two clinical trials, but that a vaccine could be 12 months away — the ability of remdesivir drug-maker Gilead to produce the drug quickly would be important.
“What I’m hearing is the company is really committed to getting it out as much as they can and as quickly as they can,” says Fauci. “I would hope that actually winds up being the case. I’m pretty confident that will be the case, I believe they’re committed to trying to get this out as quickly as possible.”
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