THE Health Ministry has granted a conditional registration approval for Veklury lyophilised powder for injection (remdesivir) to treat Covid-19 patients.

Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Veklury will be used for both adults and children above the age of 12.

“Veklury is indicated for the treatment of Covid-19 in adults and paediatric patients (12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg).

“It also will be given to both hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients, who are experiencing mild-to-moderate Covid-19 and are at high risk to progress to severe Covid-19, including hospitalisation or death,” he said in a statement today.

Dr Noor Hisham said Veklury is not intended to be used as a substitute for Covid-19 vaccination and public health measures, especially compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

It was previously reported by Gilead that Veklury is the first and only approved treatment for paediatric patients under 12 years of age who have Covid-19.

He said the conditional registration approval requires information on the quality, safety and effectiveness of antiviral products to be monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency based on latest data.

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry will continue to improve the people’s access to medication for the purpose of treatment or prevention of Covid-19 in the country by ensuring that drugs are properly evaluated for quality, safety and efficacy.

Before this, the government was using the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid for Covid-19 treatment in public hospitals.

This usage was later expanded to private hospitals. – July 7, 2022.