Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

Cedars-Sinai Played A Role In Emergency Approval Of Promising COVID-19 Drug

A vial of the drug Remdesivir presented this week at a news conference in Germany announcing the start of a trial there. (Ulrich Perrey / AFP via Getty Images)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

An experimental drug, remdesivir, has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for emergency treatment for COVID-19. A study from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center helped nudge the FDA’s decision.

Cedars Director of Hospital Epidemiology, Jonathan Grein, says clinical trials around the country administered the antiviral medication to coronavirus patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

“This is really the trial that will help us to understand most completely not only if patients will benefit clinically from the drug, but, hopefully, which patients are most likely to benefit the most.”

Grein says the findings are only preliminary and that trends showing a lower mortality rate with the drug need more study and peer review before being confirmed.
Support for LAist comes from

“This is not a cure-all,” he said. “Specifically, not everyone with COVID-19 will need this drug or even benefit from this drug.” Reports indicate that the drug seems to shorten the recovery time for patients.

Grein says the process for administering remdesivir for emergency treatment is still being determined, but Cedars-Sinai is working to have access to the drug. The approval was granted late last week.

NPR reported:

Authorization means remdesivir can be distributed in the U.S. and given intravenously to treat COVID-19 patients — both adults and children — who are hospitalized with severe disease, the FDA says. The agency defines that category as "patients with low blood oxygen levels or needing oxygen therapy or more intensive breathing support such as a mechanical ventilator."

NPR on Sunday reported that the drug's maker, Gilead, spent $2.5 million in lobbying during the first quarter of this year — about 1/3 more than the same period last year. The report also said research out of China indicated the drug has no significant effect.

MORE ON REMDESIVIR

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist