UK Limits Remdesivir for COVID-19 Due to Rising Demand

The UK’s health ministry is rationing the antiviral remdesivir due to an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations, giving priority to patients with severe infections.

The health ministry says that while there is currently sufficient supply, it wants to ensure that the National Health Service can provide remdesivir for patients who need it most. The Gilead Sciences drug has been shown to reduce hospital time but not mortality.

In the U.S., Gilead has resumed direct distribution of remdesivir to hospitals after HHS decided that the federal government no longer has to control the process because there is a sufficient supply to treat COVID-19 patients.