Experimental drug remdesivir administered to first Czech coronavirus patient

The General Teaching Hospital in Prague has received the antiviral drug and started administering it to a patient seriously ill with COVID-19 today

ČTK

Written by ČTK Published on 24.03.2020 10:35:13 (updated on 24.03.2020) Reading time: 1 minute

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The nucleotide analog remdesivir, a promising antiviral drug against coronavirus. 3D render via iStock / selvanegra
The nucleotide analog remdesivir, a promising antiviral drug against coronavirus. 3D render via iStock / selvanegra

Prague, March 24 (CTK) – The General Teaching Hospital in Prague received the remdesivir novel antiviral drug and it started administering it to a patient seriously ill with COVID-19 today, Health Minister Adam Vojtech (for ANO) has told CTK.

The man is attached to a special device blowing oxygen into his blood.

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The hospital received the permit to use the experimental drug from the U.S. firm Gilead.

On Sunday, Gilead said that due to an excessive demand in recent days, it had stopped issuing permits for experimental treatment. Pregnant women and children under 18 are to be the only exception.

Remdesivir was developed by Gilead Sciences as a treatment for the Ebola virus disease. After the epidemic was halted, the tests of the drug were discontinued.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described remdesivir as the most promising candidate in the fight against the novel coronavirus. It was efficient when administered against the SARS and MERS diseases, caused by a similar type of coronavirus.

This morning, the Czech Republic had 1,289 confirmed coronavirus cases. There was one fatality and seven people have recovered.

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