(10 June 2020) Remdesivir- virus titers reduced in 12 hrs after the first treatment administration in rhesus macaque model

Clinical benefit of remdesivir in rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2423-5

The efficacy of remdesivir treatment in a rhesus macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated. In contrast to vehicle-treated animals, animals treated with remdesivir did not show signs of respiratory disease and had reduced pulmonary infiltrates on radiographs and reduced virus titers in bronchoalveolar lavages 12hrs after the first treatment administration. Virus shedding from the upper respiratory tract was not reduced by remdesivir treatment. At necropsy, lung viral loads of remdesivir-treated animals were lower and there was a reduction in damage to the lungs. Thus, therapeutic remdesivir treatment initiated early during infection had a clinical benefit in SARS-CoV-2-infected rhesus macaques.