By Comrade Nnadi Goodluck
The Nigerian Government has finally revealed the drug the use in curing coronavirus patients.
This was disclosed during a press briefing on Tuesday by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.
The Minister revealed that Nigeria is currently using Remdesivir, an antiretroviral drug, in treating COVID-19 patients.
He said: “We have been using Remdesivir, we have tried that in Lagos too.
“So, we have tried the antiretroviral drug to see what effect it has.”
Osagie added that Nigeria has now moved from disease importation to community spread.
This revelation by the minister is coming barely four days after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency use of Remdesivir, for treatment of the disease. The emergency FDA authorisation is not the same as formal approval, which requires a higher level of review.
The US National Institute of Health said the drug proved effective against the new coronavirus disease.
Remdesivir is originally a drug developed as a potential treatment for Ebola. It is produced by Gilead pharmaceutical company.
The drug is said to only interfere with the genome of coronavirus, disrupting its ability to replicate.
According to reports in UK, the drug has a 10-day dosing duration for patients on ventilators and five days for patients who are not.
Keep the fire burning my brother, the hacklord. One day, nations will come to your rising.