Ebola Treatment 'Remdesivir' Shows Effectiveness in COVID-19 Treatment (Comprehensive)

Effect Confirmed in Clinical Trial at University of Chicago
US Stock Futures Surge

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondents Baek Jong-min and Lee Hyun-woo] The antiviral drug 'Remdesivir,' developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, has reportedly proven effective in clinical trials for treating the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Remdesivir was originally developed as a treatment for the Ebola virus but has recently garnered attention for its potential effectiveness against COVID-19, sparking interest in verifying its efficacy. Although some argue that large-scale clinical trials are necessary to confirm its therapeutic effects, the stock market has already seen significant gains.

On the 16th (local time), the U.S. medical news outlet Stat reported that Remdesivir, Gilead Sciences' Ebola treatment, showed significant therapeutic effects in a clinical trial involving 125 COVID-19 patients. According to the research team led by Professor Kathleen Mullane from the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Chicago, 113 of the patients were in severe condition, and only two died. The remaining patients recovered from high fever and respiratory symptoms and were discharged.

However, some critics point out that since the clinical trial involved only about 100 patients, the full extent of Remdesivir's effectiveness and potential side effects in treating COVID-19 has yet to be fully established. Gilead Sciences stated that clinical trials involving approximately 2,400 patients are currently underway at 152 sites worldwide, and they expect more cases demonstrating the drug's effectiveness to emerge.

News of Remdesivir's effectiveness in clinical trials for severe COVID-19 patients also impacted the U.S. stock market. The U.S. stock market, which had barely turned upward near the end of the trading day, surged after the announcement of the successful clinical trial results. On the New York Stock Exchange, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose nearly 4% at one point. Gilead's stock price also increased by about 15%.

CNBC broadcast expressed hope, stating, "If a drug showing effectiveness in treating COVID-19 is confirmed before the arrival of a vaccine, it could open the way to an earlier economic reopening."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.