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# Remdesivir Results Show Quicker Covid-19 Recoveries
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/remdesivir-results-show-quicker-covid-19-recoveries/
- Published: 2020-04-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:13:05.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5146683

New clinical data show that Gilead’s investigational antiviral remdesivir may block Covid-19 and lead to quicker recoveries for those stricken with the virus, NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director **Anthony Fauci** said in remarks made at the White House 4/29\. A preliminary data analysis from the trial (known as the [Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial](https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-clinical-trial-remdesivir-treat-covid-19-begins?ref=fdaweb.com), or ACTT), indicate that “patients who received remdesivir had a 31% faster time to recovery than those who received placebo (p<0.001),” an [NIAID release](https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-clinical-trial-shows-remdesivir-accelerates-recovery-advanced-covid-19?ref=fdaweb.com) says. “Specifically, the median time to recovery was 11 days for patients treated with remdesivir compared with 15 days for those who received placebo. Results also suggested a survival benefit, with a mortality rate of 8.0% for the group receiving remdesivir versus 11.6% for the placebo group (p=0.059).”

FDA is considering an imminent emergency use authorization to expand the drug’s use. “As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s commitment to expediting the development and availability of potential COVID-19 treatments, the agency has been engaged in sustained and ongoing discussions with Gilead Sciences regarding making remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible, as appropriate,” NIAID said. The trial closed to new enrollments on 4/19.

Remdesivir is described by NIAID as an investigational broad-spectrum antiviral treatment administered via daily infusion for 10 days. It has [shown promise in animal models ](https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/antiviral-remdesivir-prevents-disease-progression-monkeys-covid-19?ref=fdaweb.com)for treating Covid-19 infection and has been examined in various clinical trials.

Meanwhile, Gilead Sciences is reporting that topline results from the open-label, Phase 3 SIMPLE trial evaluating five-day and 10-day dosing durations of remdesivir in hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19 showed similar improvements in both the five-day and 10-day dosing regimens. A company [statement](https://www.gilead.com/news-and-press/press-room/press-releases/2020/4/gilead-announces-results-from-phase-3-trial-of-investigational-antiviral-remdesivir-in-patients-with-severe-covid-19?ref=fdaweb.com) says that no new safety signals were identified with the drug in either treatment group.

Gilead chief medical officer **Merdad Parsey** said the study “demonstrates the potential for some patients to be treated with a five-day regimen, which could significantly expand the number of patients who could be treated with our current supply of remdesivir. This is particularly important in the setting of a pandemic, to help hospitals and healthcare workers treat more patients in urgent need of care.”