Categories: Latest News

Health Minister reveals drug used for treating COVID-19 patients

The minister of health, Osagie Ehanire says Nigeria has started using remdesivir, an anti-retroviral drug, in managing COVID-19 patients.

Addressing members of the house of representatives on Tuesday, Ehanire said the drug has been administered to patients in Lagos state.

He, however, did not say the outcome of the treatment.

“We have been using that (remdesivir); we have tried that in Lagos too,” he said.

“So, we have tried the antiretroviral drug to see what effect it has.”

The minister said the drug, originally developed as a potential treatment for Ebola, is one of the options which Nigeria has adopted in treating COVID-19 patients.

But he said no herbal medicine has so far been approved for the disease.

It was reported that 150 patients recovered after being treated with the experimental anti-retroviral drug.

Gilead Sciences, the pharmaceutical company that developed the drug, said it was found to be effective on the patients during the trial which began in February.

But it added that the optimal duration of treatment is still being studied in ongoing clinical trials.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the drug for hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not approved any drug or vaccine for COVID-19.

©TheCable

Chadek

Recent Posts

BREAKING: APC Crisis: Court of Appeal dismisses Moses Agaba’s appeal against Austin Agada

The Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by…

6 hours ago

BBNaija’s Phyna publicly rejects family, drops surname

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Josephine Ijeoma Otabor, also known as Phyna, has publicly…

6 hours ago

Yemi Alade slams Cool FM, Clout Africa over blacklisting, refusal to forgive

Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has criticized prominent media outlets Cool FM and Clout Africa, accusing…

6 hours ago

BREAKING: Relief as Lakurawa terrorists flee Nigeria after military intervention

Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, has announced that the Nigerian military successfully expelled the…

7 hours ago

BREAKING: Supreme Court nullifies National Lottery Act, grants states exclusive control

The Supreme Court has struck down the National Lottery Act of 2005, ruling that the…

7 hours ago

Latest update on fuel price hike, fuel scarcity for November 22nd, 2024

As Nigerians express their frustrations over the recent fuel price hikes by the Nigerian National…

12 hours ago