The active ingredient Remdesivir is approved for use in Europe, subject to conditions as the first agent for the therapy of Covid-19. The decision was announced by the EU Commission.
“Today’s approval of the first drug for the treatment of Covid-19 is an important step forward in the fight against the Virus,” said health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
The approval was issued in less than a month after the request.
Remdesivir is considered to be one of the few effective drugs for severe cases of the Coronavirus-induced lung disease. It can be shorten according to studies, the hospital stay.
The European medicines Agency EMA recommended the marketing authorisation for patients aged twelve years, a pneumonia, and supplemental oxygen must be supplied.
No Corona remedies, but a ray of light
Doctors don’t see Remdesivir as a panacea, but as a beacon of light for Corona-patients. An international study with over 1,000 participants had shown at the end of April, that Remdesivir at Covid-19-patients can shorten the time to recovery in an average of four days – from 15 to 11 days.
The US had already been issued at the beginning of may a derogation for the limited use of the drug in hospitals. In Germany, too, the Mediterranean was already within a compassionate use program is accessible and has been tested in clinical trials.
USA and Germany have Remdesivir supplies secured
The US government had made known this week an agreement with the US manufacturer Gilead Sciences, according to which practically the entire production lot buys of the Means for the next few months. However, it has created, for example, Germany, already supplies.
The EU Commission is also negotiating with the manufacturer to secure sufficient quantities of the active ingredient.
The CDU-Europe politician Peter Liese stressed that a condition for the approval in Europe is that the manufacturer will deliver to Europe. A possible solution for the bottlenecks would be, that Gilead share his knowledge with other producers, and this leave against license fees produce. Also, so that Gilead could earn a lot of money, said Liese.
Remdesivir was originally developed for the treatment of Ebola, but showed a low effect. It is not yet approved in any country in the world fully as a drug. So far there is no vaccine against the novel Coronavirus, and also no reliable approved drug therapy.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
*The post “Remdesivir: First European approval for a Corona-medicine” published by FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.