Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Ebola Drug Being Tested in Wuhan as Treatment for Coronavirus

Natalie Liu

   An American biotech company says it is working with Chinese authorities
   to determine whether the antiviral drug remdesivir may provide an
   effective treatment for victims of the fast-spreading coronavirus known
   as COVID-19. The Chinese researchers hope to have the answer by May 1.

   Officials of Gilead Sciences, which invented remdesivir as a treatment
   for Ebola and another disease, told VOA the company has already
   initiated two clinical trials among infected patients "to determine the
   safety and efficacy of remdesivir as a potential treatment for the
   coronavirus."

   The trials have been warmly welcomed in China, where the [1]nation's
   official news agency celebrated the launch with a front page
   article.Anxious Chinese citizens have noted that the four syllables of
   remdesivir resemble the phrase as renmin-de-xi-wang, or, people's hope.

   There are also more scientific reasons to be hopeful, including the
   case of an [2]American coronavirus patient who experienced a speedy
   recovery in January, just 24 hours after being given remdesivir. Before
   the drug was administered, his symptoms had shown signs of worsening.

References

   1. http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-02/05/c_1125535991.htm
   2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001191

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