On Thursday, The US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for patients hospitalized with Covid-19, after conditional authorization was given in May.
Gilead said the drug, sold under the brand name Veklury, was the only specific treatment for Covid-19 approved so far under a more rigorous process.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said: “The FDA is committed to expediting the development and availability of Covid-19 treatments during this unprecedented public health emergency.”
He said: “Today’s approval is supported by data from multiple clinical trials that the agency has rigorously assessed and represents an important scientific milestone in the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Europe and other countries such as Canada also have granted temporary approval for the use of remdesivir.
President Donald Trump, who tested positive for the coronavirus early in October, was treated with remdesivir at a military hospital outside Washington, among other drugs.
