Ashley Rhoades, MBS, RAC
Senior Associate, Regulatory Affairs
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
333 Lakeside Drive
Foster City, CA 94404
Dear Ms. Rhoades:
This letter is in response to your request that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for emergency use of remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, as described in the Scope of Authorization (section II) of this letter, pursuant to Section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the Act) (21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3).
On February 4, 2020, pursuant to Section 564(b)(1)(C) of the Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determined that there is a public health emergency that has a significant potential to affect national security or the health and security of United States citizens living abroad, and that involves the virus that causes COVID-19.1 On the basis of such determination, the Secretary of HHS on March 27, 2020, declared that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of drugs and biologics during the COVID-19 outbreak, pursuant to section 564 of the Act, subject to terms of any authorization issued under that section.2
Remdesivir is a direct acting antiviral drug that inhibits viral RNA synthesis. It is an investigational drug and is not currently approved for any indication. Remdesivir has activity in cell culture and animal models against SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2.
Based on review of the topline data from the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted by NIAID (NCT04280705) and from the Gilead-sponsored open-label trial that evaluated different durations of remdesivir (NCT04292899), it is reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of RDV outweigh the known and potential risks of the drug for the treatment of patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.
Having concluded that the criteria for issuance of this authorization under 564(c) of the Act are met, I am authorizing the emergency use of remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19, as described .
