COVID-19 research briefs: case series shows early promise for remdesivir

Reference

Grein J, Ohmagari N, Shin D, et al. Compassionate use of remdesivir for patients with severe COVID-19. [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 10] N Engl J Med 2020;NEJMoa2007016. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2007016.

Synopsis

Research Brief #11: This uncontrolled case series reported the outcomes for 53 patients with COVID-19 who were treated with remdesivir; 40 of them received the full course of therapy (200 mg on day 1, 100 mg once daily on days 2 through 10). The median age of the patients was 64 years and the median follow-up duration was 18 days. Of the 34 patients who received invasive ventilation, 6 died, 9 were still on a ventilator, 3 had improved to noninvasive ventilation, and 16 were on room air or had been discharged. Of the 7 on noninvasive ventilation, 1 died, 1 was on invasive ventilation, and 5 had been discharged. Of the 12 on low-flow oxygen or room air, all had been discharged. Although the outcomes compare favorably with other published series, randomized trials to provide suitable evidence that this drug is effective are ongoing.