ARCHIVED - Supplies of Remdesivir in Spain about to run out due to increased covid cases

This drug is being tested as a treatment for Covid-19 in Europe

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has reported that the 'stock' of Remdesivir in Spain, the only authorized antiviral medicine against COVID-19, "is going to run out in the next few hours "due to the" increase in the number of cases. "

Remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication developed by the biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences which has been authorized for emergency use within Europe and other countries and is being tested as a treatment for COVID 19.

In a statement, the AEMPS explains that at the time of authorization, and based on the epidemiological situation in July, the laboratory that owns the drug guaranteed "a sufficient 'stock' of Remdesivir for Spain to cover its needs until production could be increased." "However, with the increase in the number of cases recently, the available 'stock' is going to run out in the next few hours," the text acknowledges.

For this reason, the AEMPS, in collaboration with hospital pharmacy services, will recall Remdesivir left over from clinical trials from participating hospitals, to care for patients from all over the national territory who need it "until there is a new shipment of Remdesivir next week. "

These shipments are part of the contract that the European Commission signed with the pharmaceutical company Gilead to guarantee access to the drug for 30,000 patients over the next few months until the centralized purchase that will take effect in October. Spain received the first shipment (of three expected) last week. The second is scheduled for next week.

AEMPS has already published a series of recommendations for treatments using Remdesivir on patients with COVID-19 in which a maximum duration of 5 days was recommended in hospitalized patients who require supplemental oxygen, but not invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygenation by extracorporeal membrane (ECMO).