KETTERING — Kettering Health Network announced its main campus in Kettering is participating in a clinical trial for the antiviral drug remdesivir in the battle against coronavirus.
The drug “has shown in preliminary trials to help COVID-19 patients recover more quickly,” the healthcare provider said.
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Remdesivir is made by Gilead Sciences, a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes medicines in areas of unmet needs, according to the company’s profile.
“Unlike traditional drug development, we are attempting to evaluate an investigational agent alongside an evolving global pandemic. Multiple concurrent studies are helping inform whether remdesivir is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 and how to best utilize the drug,” said Merdad Parsey, Chief Medical Officer with Gilead Sciences.
The pharmaceutical company reported Wednesday that the drug helped patients recover from the virus in an average of 11 days versus 15 days.
“We are thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking clinical trial,” says Dr. Patrick Lytle, vice president of Clinical Outcomes for Kettering Health Network. “Initial results are very promising, and with more testing, we can further determine remdesivir’s safety and effectiveness.”
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