A World Divided & Serious Questions

Remdesivir, the first COVID-19 drug to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was once hailed as the life-saving drug for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Despite emerging studies indicating it is not effective for inpatient treatment, and a declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that remdesivir does not reduce mortality or duration of hospitalization, it is still being used in several countries to treat COVID-19. Remdesivir appears to have been rushed through the emergency use authorization (EUA) process by its sponsor, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) – a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – and trial study endpoints on the impacts of remdesivir were modified to make remdesivir appear more successful in fighting the virus. Dr. Fauci, Director of the NIAID, declared remdesivir the “new standard of care.” By May 2020, a EUA ensured that Gilead – the manufacturers of remdesivir – could monetize the drug. Several months later, the FDA approved formally.   As the pandemic continues, and safety issues and concerns of an automatic use in certain conditions merit, TrialSite ta...