The first drug approved in the U.S. to treat COVID-19, remdesivir, has just been given the go-ahead by the FDA for babies age 28 days and up. Saying that the virus can cause severe illness in babies who haven't been vaccinated against it, the FDA said this will be a afe and effective COVID-19 treatment option for them.
As a reminder, Science reported a little over a year ago that the World Health Organization found that “remdesivir does not reduce mortality or the time COVID-19 patients take to recover.” Not only that, when the FDA first approved it in late 2020, Science learned that the agency never convened a regulatory group that is supposed to weigh the risks and benefits of a drug before approving it.
In a review investigation of the drug, Science also learned that the antiviral surprisingly had no impact on levels of the coronavirus. In a separate post-marketing report, the journal Cardiovascular Toxicology found in late 2021 that remdesivir is connected with cardiotoxicity that includes sinus bradycardia, hypotension, T-wave abnormalities, AF and a prolonged QT interval.
SOURCES:
Becker’s Hospital Review April 26, 2022
Science October 28, 2020
Cardiovascular Toxicology October 13, 2021