Publication of a revised clinical commissioning policy: Remdesivir for patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (adults and children aged 12 years and older)
The clinical commissioning policy has been updated to reflect the more positive position on remdesivir supply into the UK and the latest available evidence, including results of the WHO’s Solidarity trial, and consensus expert clinical opinion.
Source:
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
SPS commentary:
NHS acute trusts / health boards are asked to take a number of immediate steps to support treatment of patients in line with the updated interim guidance; these include ensuring clinicians prescribe a maximum treatment course of 5 days.
The most recent update of a living systematic review on remdesivir notes that information on the comparative effectiveness and harms of 5-day versus 10-day treatment courses is available from two open-label trials (SIMPLE-1 and SIMPLE-2). For those with severe Covid-19 who do not require mechanical ventilation at study entry, findings favour a 5-day course; however continuing to 10 days may be beneficial for those whose symptoms worsen and who require mechanical ventilation or ECMO on day 5 of treatment. For those with moderate COVID-19, a 10-day course was not more effective than 5 days or standard of care.