CABS Webinar Recap: Broad Spectrum Remdesivir
Date: February 27, 2020 @ 12:00 pm – @ 1:00 pm
Location: Zoom conference
CABS Webinar Recap: Broad Spectrum Antiviral Remdesivir for the Treatment of Emerging Viral Infections with High Outbreak Potential
CABS successfully held its first webinar via Zoom conference on February 27th, 2020. Dr. Yang Tian, President of CABS, moderated this webinar. The webinar attracted more than 700 attendees from the U.S., China, and other countries. In this webinar, Dr. Danielle Porter, Director of Virology from Gilead Sciences, presented the preclinical development of Remdesivir; Dr. Tomas Cihair, VP of Virology from Gilead Sciences, discussed the clinical development of Remdesivir and ongoing clinical trials for COVID-19, which has caused more than 3,000 deaths globally since January 2020.
Dr. Porter presented the results relating to preclinical development and non-clinical antiviral effect of remdesivir in treatment of high breakout potential virus infections in animal models. Remdesivir is a broad spectrum antiviral drug that was discovered from Gilead library of nucleosides and nucletides as GS-441524, then further developed into a prodrug GS-5734 (Remdesivir) with improved antiviral activity against Ebola virus.
Non-clinical studies show Remdesivir’s in vivo efficacy for broad spectrum virus including filovirus, paramyxovirus and coronavirus. Testing preclinical treatment in animal models also demonstrated in vivo efficacy in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infected mice model. Furthermore, efficacy studies in Ebola virus-infected Rhesus monkey showed improved disease signs, indicating the potential therapeutic effects of Remdesivir for human infections. 
Dr. Cihlar discussed the clinical development of Remdesivir from 2015 to 2019, including the compassionate use of Remdesivir in DRC (MEURI Protocol), PALM trial -28-Day mortality according to treatment, and more recently, clinical trials of Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19. The ongoing COVID-19 clinical trial started in early February, 2020. Currently there are multiple phase 3 trials of Remdesivir for COVID-19 in China, US and other countries.
Finally, we sincerely thank Dr. Porter and Dr. Cihlar for giving a timely talk to CABS community, CABS EC volunteers for their efforts organizing this event, and Zoom Conference and Beijing Wellbeing Foundation for technical support and free Zoom access.
.