WHO suspends remdesivir from list of medicines after warning against use on Covid-19 patients

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suspended Gilead’s remdesivir, the popular antiviral medicine that was initially being touted as a potential treatment for Covid-19 cases for months, from its list of medicines. Prior to the suspension of remdesivir, WHO had warned against its use on Covid-19 patients.

According to Reuters, WHO said on Friday it has suspended Gilead's remdesivir from its so-called prequalification list, an official list of medicines used as a benchmark for procurement by developing countries. WHO had earlier issuing guidance against the use of remdesivir for patients hospitalised with Covid-19.

"Yes, we have suspended it from the PQ (prequalification list)," WHO media representative Tarik Jasarevic said in an emailed response to Reuters. "The suspension is a signal to countries that WHO, in compliance with the treatment guidelines, does not recommend countries procure the drug for Covid."

Remdesivir was one of the drugs used to treat US President Donald Trump's coronavirus infection, and had been shown in previous studies to have cut time to recovery. It was authorised for use as a Covid-19 treatment in more than 50 countries.

In India, Gilead had signed non-exclusive deals with several pharma companies to boost the supply of remdesivir, which was so far the only approved treatment against Covid-19. Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Zydus Cadila apart from Cipla and a few others were already making the generic remdesivir antiviral drug in India.

The Reuters report also said that the WHO was not aware that any international procurers were providing the drug to low and middle-income countries.

WHO advice against remdesivir

A WHO Guideline Development Group (GDG) panel of international experts advised against remdesivir in The BMJ on Friday and suggested against its use on Covid-19 patients.

The antiviral drug remdesivir is not suggested for patients admitted to hospital with covid-19, regardless of how severely ill they are, because there is currently no evidence that it improves survival or the need for ventilation, said the WHO guideline.

The recommendation is part of a living guideline, developed by the WHO with the methodological support of MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, to provide trustworthy guidance on the management of Covid-19 and help doctors make better decisions with their patients.

Remdesivir has received worldwide attention as a potentially effective treatment for severe Covid-19 cases and is being widely used to treat patients in hospitals. But its role in clinical practice has remained uncertain.

The recommendation was based on a new evidence review comparing the effects of several drug treatments for Covid-19. It includes data from four international randomised trials involving over 7,000 patients hospitalised for Covid-19.

(With inputs from Ashutosh Mishra in New Delhi)