Remdesivir not magic bullet, does not reduce mortality, say health experts

Amid a huge spike in Covid-19 cases leading to increased demand for medicines to treat coronavirus, top health experts in the government on Monday said anti-viral drug Remdesivir is 'not a magic bullet' and does not reduce mortality.

Addressing the media, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said Remdesivir should only be given to patients hospitalised with a moderate illness, who had a fall in oxygen saturation and have infiltrates on chest X-rays or CT-scan.

'Remdesivir is not a magic bullet and this is not a drug that reduces mortality. We may use it as we don't have a very good antiviral drug. It has a limited role and we should be very careful in its usage,' he said.

'In major studies, Remdesivir was shown to be useful only in those hospitalised patients with falling oxygen saturation and having infiltrates on chest X-ray or CT-scan. It is of no use if given early in mild and asymptomatic patients and also if administered too late,' Dr Randeep Guleria said.