Gilead Sciences Inc has launched two Phase 3 studies of an experimental nucleotide analog to treat adults diagnosed with infection from the COVID-19 coronavirus. The studies will assess two dosing durations of the drug remdesivir, administered intravenously. They follow the US Food and Drug Administration decision to accept Gilead’s clinical trial application.
Remdesivir has been tested in humans with Ebola virus disease and in animal models for Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome, which are caused by other coronaviruses.