S. Korea begins using remdesivir to treat COVID-19

Remdesivir (courtesy of Seoul National University Hospital) via The Korea Herald

SEOUL — South Korean health authorities said Wednesday stocks of remdesivir, an experimental antiviral once seen as a potential Ebola therapy, will be supplied to local hospitals for treating the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19.

In a press release, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the use of remdesivir will be limited to more seriously ill patients in need of oxygen therapy. More specifically, patients with chest scans showing signs of pneumonia and oxygen saturation of 94 percent or lower are eligible for the medication.

The stocks being distributed now have been donated by the US pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences, the disease control agency said, without disclosing the exact amount of doses. But it said the donated supplies were projected to last for about a month.

The government said it plans to begin talks with a local importer to make purchases starting August. Gilead said the drug will be priced $390 per vial, which roughly translates to $2,340 for a course of treatment.

Remdesivir is so far the only effective therapy against COVID-19, although its proven benefits are modest. According to a preliminary report published May 22 on the New England Journal of Medicine, patients that received the drug recovered faster than those given a placebo. Around 88 percent of patients included in the study were severely sick.

The Food and Drug Safety Ministry granted imports of remdesivir for emergency use last month. Korea has yet to complete its clinical tests on the drug.