Remdesivir – Current evidence & perspective in management of COVID-19 infection

Coronavirus infection or COVID 19 was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has rapidly spread to more than 200 countries. The pandemic has also taken a toll of over 2.2 million. But the elusive search for an effective antidote is still on. Pending multiple and robust randomized controlled studies, some drugs are being used globally based on in-vitro studies, in -vivo evidence, observational studies, and small nonrandomized studies. Remdesivir is a nucleotide analog. It inhibits viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzyme. Several studies have hitherto demonstrated the promising in-vitro and in-vivo antiviral activities of the molecule against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) strains. It has now exhibited potential in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 strains too. Based on pivotal studies, remdesivir is now being used to treat moderate to severe patients through emergency use authorizations and other access programs around the world. This review aims to summarize the evidence and clinical trials of remdesivir as a potential therapeutic option for COVID-19.