Bryan-College Station and Bell County have been selected by the state to receive additional cases of an antimalarial drug that has been used to treat COVID-19 patients.
The drug, remdesivir, will be distributed across three hospitals in the Bryan-College Station area and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Bell County. Brazos County initially received two cases of the treatment, while Bell County initially received one case.
"The Lone Star State continues to prioritize the health of our fellow Texans and ensure that medical providers across the state have the supplies needed to respond to COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful to our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing these cases of remdesivir to communities across the state of Texas. Texas will continue to act swiftly to provide for our hospitals, secure treatment for patients, and slow the spread of COVID-19."
Remdesivir has shown promise in early trials in speeding up the recovery time among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Preliminary results from a clinical trial showed the average recovery time among patients who received remdesivir was 11 days versus 15 days with a placebo.
The state says the medication is being distributed according to COVID hospitalizations at the county level to ensure it is getting to where it is most needed. Additionally, the powdered formulation allows for the treatment of pediatric patients, so children’s hospitals are included in the distribution.
It is up to medical staff to determine how the drug will be used, however it must be prescribed in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization.
The supply is part of a donation from drug maker Gilead.
