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# Gilead Lends Remdesivir to China for Coronavirus Trial
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/gilead-lends-remdesivir-to-china-for-coronavirus-trial/
- Published: 2020-02-06T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:02:00.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5146035

Gilead Sciences is working with Chinese health authorities to begin a randomized, controlled study to determine whether the company’s remdesivir can safely and effectively be used to treat the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. In a 2/5 Gilead [statement](https://www.gilead.com/news-and-press/company-statements/gilead-sciences-statement-on-the-company-ongoing-response-to-the-2019-new-coronavirus?ref=fdaweb.com), the company says it is also “expediting appropriate laboratory testing of remdesivir against 2019-nCoV samples.” Gilead says it has also offered its antiviral expertise and resources to help fight the virus.

According to [*Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News*](https://www.genengnews.com/news/coronavirus-gileads-remdesivir-begins-trials-as-researchers-publish-positive-in-vitro-results/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fsource=GEN+Daily+News+Highlights&utm%5Fcontent=01&utm%5Fcampaign=GEN+Daily+News+Highlights%5F20200206&oly%5Fenc%5Fid=8686A2220356G4S), China-based news services report that the study has a total of 761 patients in two trials — one to evaluate the drug’s potency on 308 cases with mild or moderate infections, and the other on 453 severely infected patients.

Remdesivir is not approved for use anywhere globally, but the company says it has demonstrated *in vitro* and *in vivo* activity in animal models against the viral pathogens MERS and SARS, which are similar coronaviruses. There are also limited clinical data available from the emergency use of remdesivir in treating patients with Ebola, it says.

Gilead describes remdesivir as an antiviral and a novel nucleotide analog prodrug.