Remdesivir
VekluryPubChem CID 121304016 · 3D model
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Stops the coronavirus from copying its genetic material, halting the infection from spreading further in the body.
How it works
The virus that causes COVID-19 needs to copy its genetic code to multiply inside the body. Remdesivir is converted inside cells into a building block that looks like one the virus normally uses to build new copies of its RNA. When the virus's copying machinery grabs this look-alike piece instead of the real one, the copying process gets jammed and stops partway through, blocking the virus from reproducing.
What it’s used for
Used to treat COVID-19 in people who are sick enough to be hospitalized, as well as in people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of getting seriously ill. It's given as an IV infusion, approved for both adults and children.
- Mechanism
- RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor (nucleotide analog)
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Antiviral