Egypt to take part in coronavirus clinical trial testing Gilead’s remdesivir

Egypt will take part in the clinical trial testing for remdesivir as a potential treatment for the coronavirus, said Dr. Jihan Al-Assal, a member of the scientific committee to combat the Covid-19.

Gilead Sciences Inc’s antiviral drug remdesivir, which has been approved for use in Japan, and authorised for emergency use in the U.S., will be available in Egypt within a week, Al-Assal said.

In a telephone interview, she said Egypt is taking a two-pronged approach to finding treatment for the coronavirus.

The approach includes several clinical trials currently underway for a treatment, in addition to experiments to find a vaccine, Al-Assal added.

Egypt has also participated in U.S.-led research approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to the Egyptian health official.

So far, Egypt has conducted 22 medical trials on different medicines, she said.

Al-Assal also clarified that many drugs are being tested as potential treatments for the coronavirus, including the use of plasma, calling on patients who have recovered from the virus to donate their plasma.