Trump: FDA authorizes Remdesivir drug for COVID-19

5/3/2020 - 5:49:10 PM

President Donald Trump said on May 1 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted authorization to Gilead Sciences Inc for emergency use of its experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir to treat patients with COVID-19.

A Detroit resident is tested for free for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and antibodies at the Sheffield Center in Detroit, Michigan, US, April 28, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

During a meeting in the Oval Office with the president, Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O'Day called the move an important first step and said the company was donating 1.5 million vials of the drug to help patients.

* President Donald Trump on May 1 seemingly increased his estimate of possible deaths in the United States from the coronavirus, telling a White House event he hopes for less than 100,000 fatalities, a higher upper limit than the 60,000 to 70,000 deaths he discussed on April 27.

"Hopefully we're going to come in below that 100,000 lives lost, which is a horrible number nevertheless," Trump said.

Projections have varied for how many lives COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, would claim. Anthony Fauci, a top infectious disease official, had said in March that Americans should be prepared for 100,000 deaths.

Source: Reuters

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