Gilead to begin human trials of inhaled version of remdesivir, potential COVID-19 drug

Gilead Sciences received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Association to begin trials of an easier to administer, inhaled version of remdesivir — the potential COVID-19 drug, CEO Daniel O’Day said in an open letter Monday.

Studies have shown that remdesivir helps reduce the recovery period in patients with COVID-19. One of the first to show effectiveness against COVID-19 in humans, the drug was given emergency use authorization by many countries including the U.S. and is presently being administered intravenously through daily infusions at the hospitals.

The CEO of the California based bio-pharmaceutical firm believes success of an inhaled version of the drug could spell hope.

“An inhaled formulation would be given through a nebulizer, which could potentially allow for easier administration outside the hospital, at earlier stages of disease,” O’Day wrote in the open letter. “That could have significant implications in helping to stem the tide of the pandemic.”

The company plans to begin the trial in COVID-19 patients by August.

Gilead CEO also announced that the company plans on producing over 2 million courses of remdesivir by the end of 2020. They have set up voluntary licensing agreements with nine generic manufacturers to ramp up supply across the world, the letter explained.