Gilead drug goes to clinical trials for coronavirus

The most potent antivirals are being studied as possible treatments for coronavirus. And remdesivir — a drug developed by Gilead Sciences to treat the Ebola and Marburg viruses — is now getting a nod of approval from the World Health Organization. 

“There is only one drug right now that we think may have real efficacy, and that’s remdesivir,” a top WHO official said during a Beijing press conference on Monday. Gilead saw a 5% stock jump in response to this news. 

Now, U.S. clinical trials testing remdesivir on coronavirus are officially underway in Nebraska. The first trial participant is an American who contracted the illness on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.