The first drug to treat severe cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the European Union (EU), on Friday, was given the green light, with the European Commission approving Remdesivir.
EU’s Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, said the union would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to secure efficient treatments or vaccine against the coronavirus.
“It is the first time the EU’s Executive arm has granted the approval to a COVID-19 drug and was the last step for remdesivir to be given the full go-ahead,” Kyriakides said.
This decision follows a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which said that the drug, sold under the name Veklury, should be approved for treating COVID-19 patients over the age of 12 who requires supplemental oxygen.
Remdesivir, manufactured by U.S. Biotech Company, Gilead Sciences, was originally developed as an Ebola treatment, but it had little effect.
However, the approval came shortly after the U.S. Government had announced an agreement with Gilead Sciences, which it bought up almost all of the drug supplies for the upcoming months.
