Cape Fear Valley will receive an allocation of remdesivir from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to aid in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, the hospital system announced Friday.
The first patients will receive the drug this week.
Remdesivir is an investigational antiviral drug that underwent clinical trial evaluation. The NIAID sponsored Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial announced preliminary results demonstrating shortened time to clinical recovery in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
Based on these preliminary results, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to permit the use of remdesivir for treatment of hospitalized adults and children with severe infection.
Gilead donated 607,000 vials of remdesivir over the next few months for use across the U.S. Cape Fear Valley’s allocation is based on the health system’s percentage of the overall number of hospitalized COVID patients in N.C.
Hospitals receiving remdesivir must assess and document that patients meet inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria include:
Suspected or laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (the virus that causes COVID-19)
Non-pregnant adult or child
Severe lower respiratory tract disease requiring supplemental oxygen
Radiographic (X-ray) evidence of lower respiratory tract disease
“We are pleased to have remdesivir available for our hospitalized COVID-19 patients,” Cape Fear Valley Vice President of Professional Services pharmacist Dr. Christopher Tart said in a statement. “There are many requirements on the hospital in order to receive this therapy and our pharmacy team, providers and nurses are all excited to meet this challenge so that we can offer another life-saving treatment for COVID patients from Cumberland County and the region.”
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