First COVID-19 treatment drug approved in Australia could reduce hospital strain

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First COVID-19 treatment drug approved in Australia could reduce hospital strain

By Ashleigh McMillan

The first drug slated to combat COVID-19 in severely ill patients and reduce recovery time has been approved for use within Australia hospitals.

COVID-19 drug remdesivir was given provisional approval in Australia on Friday, for use in adults and adolescents with severe virus symptoms.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said remdesivir had the potential to reduce the strain on the healthcare system by "reducing recovery times" and freeing up hospital beds.

A vial of the drug remdesivir, which has been given provisional approval for use in Australia.

A vial of the drug remdesivir, which has been given provisional approval for use in Australia.Credit: Gilead Sciences

The drug will not be available to Australians unless they are in hospital, severely unwell and requiring oxygen or high-level breathing support. It has not been shown to be effective in preventing COVID-19 or improving milder cases of the virus.

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"Remdesivir is the most promising treatment option so far to reduce hospitalisation time for those suffering from severe coronavirus infections," a press release from the TGA stated.

"While this is a major milestone in Australia's struggle against the pandemic, it is important to emphasise that the product has not been shown to prevent coronavirus infection or relieve milder cases of infection."

Singapore, the United States and the European Union have already approved the emergency use of the drug in severe cases.

The provisional approval - which is limited to a maximum of six years - was made on the basis of preliminary clinical data and the potential benefits for Australian patients, according to the TGA.

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Preliminary data from a major US government-sponsored clinical trial released in April suggests remdesivir shortened the time to recovery by 31 per cent.

However, the drug did not significantly cut the risk of dying from the virus.

Remdesivir was originally developed by US biotech company Gilead to treat Ebola, but it did not work on that virus. It has not been approved to treat any other condition.

The pharmaceutical company drew ire in June after it announced it would charge $US2340 ($3409) for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries.

The drug binds to an enzyme the virus uses to make copies of its genes. Unable to copy itself, the virus is soon wiped out by the immune system.

It comes after Victoria experienced its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day, with 288 cases of the virus announced on Friday.

The state's tally of active cases was pushed past 1000 for the first time to 1172. Forty-seven people are now in hospital with coronavirus, with 12 patients in intensive care.

With Liam Mannix

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