Remdesivir to become the UK’s first COVID-19 treatment to be made available outside a clinical trial

Remdesivir will become the UK’s first COVID-19 treatment to be made available for use outside a clinical trial. A selected group of COVID-19 patients will soon be able to access the medicine, announced the Department of Health and Social Care, after evidence suggests that it could shorten the time to recover.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Early Access to Medicines Scheme are supporting the administration of remdesivir, which inhibits RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, conflicting with RNA replication, in selected COVID-19 patients.

Lord Bethell, Minister for Innovation, stated: “This shows fantastic progress. As we navigate this unprecedented period, we must be on the front foot of the latest medical advancements, while always ensuring patient safety remains a top priority. The latest expert scientific advice is at the heart of every decision we make, and we will continue to monitor remdesivir’s success in clinical trials across the country to ensure the best results for UK patients.”

Dr Stephen Griffin, University of Leeds Medical School outlined that those patients who are suffering the worst will most likely be administered the drug first.

He stated: “Whilst this is clearly the most ethically sound approach, it also means that we ought not to expect the drug to immediately act as a magic bullet. We can instead hope for improved recovery rates and a reduction in patient mortality, which we hope will benefit as many patients as possible.”