IN February, a team of Chinese scientists conducted a clinical study in Wuhan to investigate the effect of remdesivir on severe Covid-19 patients.

The 237 subjects were randomised to treatment group (n=158) and placebo group (n= 78, 1 dropout), primarily to study how soon the drug could produce clinical improvement.

The study of Wang et al (2020), remdesivir in adults with severe Covid-19: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, was published on April 29 in the prestigious The Lancet.

Due to adverse events, the study had to be terminated prematurely. More patients had died taking the drug (14%) compared with 13% in the placebo group.

The frequency of lung failure (respiratory failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome) was five times higher in the remdesivir group than in the placebo group, while the frequency of cardiopulmonary failure was three times higher.

Wang et al concluded, “In this study with hospitalised patients suffering from severe Covid-19 infection, remdesivir showed no benefit on clinical outcome or viral infection.”

It is puzzling that despite a negative conclusion of the study, the World Health Organisation still proceeded to conduct large-scale clinical trials on remdesivir in multiple countries.

The hydrochloroquine anti-malaria drug episode, which was earlier used in haste to treat Covid-19 patients and later found to have caused more deaths, should have provided lessons.

Even if the continuing remdesivir study is desperation-driven, at best only a small-scale or a pilot study should be allowed, and with the study redesigned.

Continuing to conduct large-scale clinical studies on patients despite knowing the adverse events and with confirmed negative results is unethical and possibly even criminal. Let us hope the unethical conduct is not tainted by corporate greed. – May 14, 2020.

* Captain (rtd) Dr Wong Ang Peng is a member of the National Patriots Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.