Not Monkeying Around!

Angie SzumlinskiCase Study

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) shared a study of remdesivir, a drug developed by Gilead Sciences Inc. and NIAID-supported investigators which involved six rhesus macaques. One group of monkeys received remdesivir and the other animals served as an untreated comparison group. Scientists infected both groups with SARS-CoV-2. Twelve hours later the treatment group received a dose of remdesivir intravenously and then received a daily intravenous booster dose for the next six days. The scientists timed the initial treatment to occur shortly before the virus reached its highest level in the animals’ lungs. Twelve hours after the treatment, the scientists examined all animals and found the six treated animals in significantly better health than the untreated group, a trend that continued during the seven-day study. Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral originally developed to treat Ebola but it was ineffective.

Imagine if you will, an anti-viral that could change the course of the disease/symptoms within a short amount of time? It could possibly save lives and set the world back on its’ axis! It is showing promise and is something to keep an eye on! To read the study in its entirety, click the link below.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/antiviral-remdesivir-prevents-disease-progression-monkeys-covid-19