Chennai: The Central government has revised the dosage of anti-viral drug remdesivir to be administered to Covid-19 patients in the moderate stage of illness from the earlier six days to five days as it issued an updated ‘Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19’
According to the Union Health Ministry, the drug, administered in the form of injection, should be given at a dose of 200 mg on day one followed by 100 mg daily for four days (total five days), the new treatment protocols stated.
On 14 June, the Health Minister had included it as part of investigational therapy to manage Covid patients with moderate disease (those on oxygen).
On 1 May, the USFDA had given Gilead authorisation for emergency use of the drug on Covid-19 patients. The emergency authorisation allows products to be used for treatment without full data on their safety and efficacy.