Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/19/2020
By: Chang Min-hsuan, Chen Yi-hsuan and Ko Lin

Taipei, March 19 (CNA) Clinical trials of the antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 have already started in Taiwan, Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) expert Chang Shang-chun (張上淳) said Thursday.

Speaking at a daily CECC briefing in Taipei, Chang said remdesivir is a highly anticipated drug that many believe could be a potential treatment for COVID-19 patients.

Originally developed by the American drugmaker Gilead Sciences for use against the Ebola virus, remdesivir has been widely discussed as a possible coronavirus treatment, following positive results from Chinese and American doctors who have administered the drug experimentally.

On Jan. 31, Gilead said in a statement that it was working with the Chinese authorities to conduct a clinical trial involving the use of remdesivir on coronavirus patients.   [FULL  STORY]