Remdesivir may be dropped from COVID-19 treatment protocol: Ganga Ram Hospital doctor
Although Remdesivir has been approved as an investigational drug for strict use under hospital conditions, it has seen a surge in demand amidst the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

- May 19, 2021,
- Updated May 19, 2021 2:49 PM IST
Anti-viral drug Remdesivir, which is being widely used in the country for treatment of COVID-19 patients, may be dropped from the recommended treatment protocol for the infection as there is no evidence of its effectiveness, a doctor from Delhi's top hospital said.
Although Remdesivir has been approved as an investigational drug for strict use under hospital conditions, it has seen a surge in demand amidst the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to shortage of the drug, and its black marketing and hoarding. The Health Ministry had urged hospitals to use the drug judiciously and rationally.
"...there is no such evidence regarding Remdesivir that works in COVID-19 treatment. Medicines that do not have any activity to work, will have to be discontinued," Ganga Ram Hospital Chairperson Dr DS Rana told new agency ANI.
"All the experimental medicines, be plasma therapy (which is now discontinued) or Remdesivir, all of them may be dropped soon as there is no such evidence of its functioning," he added.
Plasma therapy dropped as treatment against COVID-19 after govt panel finds it 'ineffective'
Anti-viral drug Remdesivir, which is being widely used in the country for treatment of COVID-19 patients, may be dropped from the recommended treatment protocol for the infection as there is no evidence of its effectiveness, a doctor from Delhi's top hospital said.
Although Remdesivir has been approved as an investigational drug for strict use under hospital conditions, it has seen a surge in demand amidst the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to shortage of the drug, and its black marketing and hoarding. The Health Ministry had urged hospitals to use the drug judiciously and rationally.
"...there is no such evidence regarding Remdesivir that works in COVID-19 treatment. Medicines that do not have any activity to work, will have to be discontinued," Ganga Ram Hospital Chairperson Dr DS Rana told new agency ANI.
"All the experimental medicines, be plasma therapy (which is now discontinued) or Remdesivir, all of them may be dropped soon as there is no such evidence of its functioning," he added.
Plasma therapy dropped as treatment against COVID-19 after govt panel finds it 'ineffective'