What is Veklury (remdesivir) for?
Veklury (remdesivir) is a drug for treating COVID-19. It helps adults and teens aged 12 and up. They must need oxygen to breathe.
How does Veklury (remdesivir) work?
Veklury (remdesivir) is a special drug. It looks like a part of RNA, which viruses use to copy themselves. This makes it hard for viruses to spread.
It stops viruses from making more copies of themselves. It does this by blocking an enzyme called RNA polymerase. This enzyme is key for viruses to multiply.
Veklury starts as a prodrug. This means it needs to be changed into its active form inside the body. This process makes it work against viruses.
Where has Veklury (remdesivir) been approved?
Veklury (remdesivir) has been approved in several places. It’s for treating severe COVID-19 in adults and teens aged 12 and up. They need oxygen to breathe.
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan, May 7, 2020.
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on July 3, 2020, which granted a conditional marketing authorisation.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia on July 10, 2020.
- Health Canada on July 28, 2020.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA, on October 22, 2020.
This list might not be complete. If you have questions about its approval in other places, contact our support team.
How is Veklury (remdesivir) taken?
The usual dose is:
- 200 mg infusion on the first day,
- Then 100 mg infusion once daily for 4 to 9 days.
Veklury is given through an IV. It should only be used in places where patients can be watched closely. Liver and kidney function should be checked before and during treatment.
Warning: Veklury (remdesivir) is only for use under a doctor’s care. Patients need to be closely watched during treatment.
For more details on how to take Veklury, see the official prescribing information in our references section.
Note: Always talk to your doctor about the right dose and any possible drug interactions.
Are there any known adverse reactions or side effects of Veklury (remdesivir)?
Note: Veklury (remdesivir) is given emergency use authorization. This means more studies are needed to fully understand its safety and side effects.
Common adverse reactions
The most common side effects ( ≥20% of patients) listed in the prescribing information include:
- Increased blood creatinine
- Increased blood glucose levels
- Increased serum aminotransferase levels
- Infusion-related reactions
- Serious adverse reactions
The serious side effects listed in the prescribing information include:
- Acute respiratory failure
- Hypotension
- Viral pneumonia
- Acute kidney injury
These are not all the side effects: Veklury (remdesivir) is still being studied.
Use in specific populations
It is not known if remdesivir will affect or impact a fetus or pregnancy. Please talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
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