SHOWING PROMISE:NTU Hospital said a US drugmaker would donate doses of an antiviral medication, but it still requires government approval before it could be used
Taipei Times
Date: Feb 08, 2020
By: Staff writer, with CNA
Taiwan has asked the US-based drugmaker Gilead Sciences to reserve the nation doses of its
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung speaks at the Central Epidemic Command Center at the Centers for Disease Control in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Chen confirmed the request, and said that the drug — which is not yet licensed or approved in any nation — still requires government approval before it could be used.
Developed for use against the Ebola virus, remdesivir has garnered attention as a possible treatment for 2019-nCoV, following positive results from US and Chinese doctors who have administered the drug in clinical trials.
On Friday last week, Gilead said it was working with Chinese authorities to test the drug on coronavirus patients. [FULL STORY]
