Vietnam to approve remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment state media

HANOI, Aug. 3 (Reuters) – Vietnam is preparing to approve the use of remdesivir, an antiviral drug from Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) for the treatment of patients who have contracted the coronavirus, media reported on Tuesday. ‘State.

The Southeast Asian country has been successful in containing COVID-19 during much of the pandemic, but has seen an increase in infections and hospitalizations since an outbreak that emerged in late April.

After receiving donations of remdesivir, Vietnam is already using the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 in some health facilities, the official VTC newspaper quoted, citing Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son.

“The ministry is studying the inclusion of remdesivir in the treatment regimen and will soon approve the use of remdesivir in the treatment of COVID-19,” Son said.

Remdesivir has been approved for emergency use in critically ill patients in countries such as the United States, India, and South Korea, and has received full approval in Japan.

Vietnam is expected to receive 500,000 vials of remdesivir and is also considering approving favipiravir, a drug that has also been shown to be effective in combating COVID-19, the health ministry said in an earlier statement.

Editing by Ed Davies

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