REMDESIVIR

What is remdesivir (Veklury)?

Remdesivir is an intravenous (IV) medication used to treat COVID-19. It was approved in 2020 and can be used in adults and children (over 28 days old and weighing at least 3 kilograms) [1]. Remdesivir is a nucleotide analog that works by inhibiting the process COVID-19 uses to replicate. This helps keep viral levels low so the body’s immune system has a chance to fight it off. It is best used within seven days of the start of symptoms [2].

Can remdesivir help with long-COVID?

Currently, remdesivir is only indicated for the treatment of COVID-19. However, research has been dedicated to exploring whether the use of remdesivir decreases the risk of contracting long-COVID. The results of these studies have been mixed. One study looked at patients two years after using remdesivir and found no effect on long-term recovery, quality of life, or long-COVID symptoms. Roughly one in four patients reported fatigue, and one in six felt their recovery from COVID-19 was incomplete. There were downfalls to this study; specifically, their sample population was small, leading to a large amount of uncertainty regarding the results [3]. A second study of remdesivir found treatment reduced long-COVID symptoms for at least six months [4]. Further, additional research showed patients receiving antiviral drugs (such as remdesivir) were less likely to develop long COVID than untreated participants [5].

There are mixed reviews concerning the use of remdesivir in preventing long-COVID, so it is difficult to determine whether it has a true benefit. For those already diagnosed with long-COVID, there has been no evidence to date that it could be a viable treatment option for eradication or symptom management of COVID-19.

References:

¹https://www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/covid-19/veklury/veklury_pi.pdf

 ²https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/remdesivir-veklury/common-questions-about-remdesivir/

 ³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9579198/

 ⁴https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34850210/

 ⁵https://www.contagionlive.com/view/can-early-outpatient-treatment-reduce-the-risk-of-long-covid-

Active Clinical Trials: Long COVID, remdesivir | Card Results | ClinicalTrials.gov