As the COVID-19 pandemic races across the globe, the scientific community, from academic and government laboratories to small biotechnology companies and multinational pharmaceutical corporations, has mobilized to develop and evaluate potential therapeutics and vaccines.[SUP]
101−
104[/SUP] Repurposing or repositioning an effective small-molecule therapeutic promises to be the fastest therapeutic means to stem the tide of the pandemic.[SUP]
105,
106[/SUP] Among the candidate therapies, remdesivir has demonstrated efficacy in both
in vitro and
in vivo models against coronaviruses. Recently, through a compassionate use indication, remdesivir has supportive evidence for yielding some clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients.[SUP]
107[/SUP] In addition, an interim analysis of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (
NCT04280705) supports improvement in the primary endpoint for patients receiving remdesivir, compared to control, with a 31% faster time to recovery.[SUP]
108[/SUP] Based on these initial findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the emergency use of remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. With no drug having FDA approval for marketing as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2, this is the first FDA authorization of an investigational therapeutic for use in treating SARS-CoV-2.[SUP]
109[/SUP] While remdesivir represents one compound whose recent use authorization may, in part, mitigate the morbidity, mortality, and strain on global healthcare systems caused by COVID-19, additional ongoing clinical trials will provide much-needed clarity surrounding the repurposing of approved drugs and experimental agents against SARS-CoV-2.