COVID-19 Latest Update Today: Remdesivir. Everyone these days is acquainted with this name. Why? Because it is considered to be one of the most vital medicines to treat severe COVID-19 cases. However, there is an important update on Remdesivir that might shock people for a bit. On Tuesday, Dr DS Rana, Chairperson, Ganga Ram Hospital informed that Remdesivir is may be dropped from COVID-19 treatment soon as there has been no evidence on its effectiveness in treating COVID-19 patients. Incidentally, this move comes after the use of convalescent plasma has been dropped from the recommended treatment protocols for COVID-19 as per the advisory of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

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While speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Dr. Rana said, "In plasma therapy, we give a pre-forwarded antibody to someone who has been infected before, so that the antibody can fight with the virus. Antibodies usually form when the coronavirus attacks. We have seen in the last one year that giving plasma does not make any difference in the condition of the patient and other people. Also, it is not easily available. Plasma therapy was started on a scientific basis and has been discontinued on the basis of evidence." He further added that all experimental medicines, be it plasma therapy or Remdesivir, may be dropped soon as there has been no evidence of their effectiveness. He also informed that at present only three medicines are working.

Notably, to enhance the availability of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the central government has taken prompt actions. On Monday, the Department of Pharmaceuticals informed that currently about 119 lakh vials of Remdesivir are being produced per month as per an ANI report.

Remdesivir is a patented drug, manufactured in India under voluntary licenses granted by patent holder Gilead Life Sciences US to seven Indian pharmaceutical companies – Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s Lab, Hetero, Jubilant Pharma, Mylan, Syngene, and Zydus Cadila.