Singapore approves remdesivir drug for COVID-19 treatment

Singapore has approved the use of the antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of seriously ill patients infected with COVID-19.

The city-state is among the first countries to grant an approval for the drug, which has shown to be effective against COVID-19 in clinical trials.

Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Wednesday that the conditional approval for Gilead Sciences Singapore's remdesivir drug would allow treatment of adult patients if they have low blood oxygen levels, require supplemental oxygen or intensive breathing support.

The drug, which was first created to treat Ebola, has been used as part of clinical trials in Singapore since March this year.

On May 22, Gilead filed for registration of remdesivir in Singapore and obtained HSA's conditional approval on Wednesday.

"Although the data on its efficacy and safety is very limited at this point in time, HSA has expedited the review of remdesivir given the urgent public health need during the COVID-19 pandemic," HSA said in statement.

HSA is working with Singapore's Ministry of Health and relevant experts to further define the subcategory of patients who are likely to benefit most from this medicine.