New study shows Remdesivir reduces hospitalization in COVID-19 patients by 87%

Gilead's COVID-19 drug Remdesivir reduced serious illness and death by nearly 90% in a new study conducted by the company.

Researchers found that if the drug is administered to patients early on when symptoms arise, it decreases their chance of hospitalization by 87%.

This announcement comes as the Food and Drug Administration debates approval of booster shots for those who have received either a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

According to Epoch Times, over 500 high-risk patients were enrolled in a random, double-blind study to monitor their reactions to Remdesivir. According to trial data, the participants received the drug intravenously on three consecutive days, outside a hospital setting. 

The drug is currenty approved for the treatment of COVID, but only in a hospital setting and for those patients who are already extremely ill. Gilead hopes this new data will persuade regulators to make their drug more widely available. 

This drug can also be useful in preventing further hospitalizations from the Delta variant, paired with antibody treatments. Both types of mitigation are in such high demand that the Biden Administration has rationed the drug as well as antibody treatments.

Gilead said there was one death in the study, in the placebo group, but that it occurred after the 28-day cutoff for the main trial. 

The drug company said it shared the new data with the FDA and the World Health Organization.