Researchers investigated the efficacy and safety of the medication in 397 patients with diagnosed serious Covid-19 infections in the international, randomized study. The investigation took place in eight different countries during the spring of 2020. The patients, treated in normal and intensive care units, were randomly separated into two groups and received Remdesivir intravenously over periods of five and ten days. In the meantime the study has been expanded to an additional 5,600 test subjects.

The study showed comparable improvements in the clinical condition after therapies lasting for five and ten days. Changes in the patients' condition were measured using a seven-point scale. "The duration of therapy is of great interest in medical treatment," says Adjunct Teaching Professor Dr. Christoph Spinner, responsible for the study at university hospital TUM Klinikum rechts der Isar. "On the one hand patients are only treated as long as is necessary and, when appropriate, can be released from the hospital earlier. On the other hand the medication would be available to more people, an advantage in the face of expected limitations on production capacities. A shorter application period may also mean a reduction in side-effects for the patient."

The side-effects observed in both groups were comparable, including nausea, acute deterioration in pulmonary function, higher liver function test values and constipation.