The first drug slated to combat COVID-19 in severely ill patients and reduce recovery time has been approved for use within Australia hospitals.
COVID-19 drug remdesivir was given provisional approval in Australia on Friday, for use in adults and adolescents with severe virus symptoms.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said remdesivir had the potential to reduce the strain on the healthcare system by "reducing recovery times" and freeing up hospital beds.Credit:The drug will not be available to Australians unless they are in hospital, severely unwell and requiring oxygen or high-level breathing support. It has not been shown to be effective in preventing COVID-19 or improving milder cases of the virus.
"While this is a major milestone in Australia's struggle against the pandemic, it is important to emphasise that the product has not been shown to prevent coronavirus infection or relieve milder cases of infection." Singapore, the United States and the European Union have already approved the emergency use of the drug in severe cases.
The provisional approval - which is limited to a maximum of six years - was made on the basis of preliminary clinical data and the potential benefits for Australian patients, according to the TGA.remdesivir shortened the time to recovery by 31 per cent.Remdesivir was originally developed by US biotech company Gilead to treat Ebola, but it did not work on that virus. It has not been approved to treat any other condition.
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