Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

21 hours ago

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

22 hours ago

Tesla to Roll out Bay Area Robotaxis With Safety Drivers, Report Says

23 hours ago

Thailand and Cambodia Exchange Heavy Artillery Fire as Border Battle Expands

24 hours ago

California Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammunition, US Appeals Court Rules

2 days ago

TikTok Will Go Dark in US Without Chinese Approval of Sale Deal, Lutnick Says

2 days ago

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

2 days ago
UCSF Fresno Doctor: 'Remdesivir Should Be Given to Anyone' to Fight COVID
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
May 19, 2020

Share

“In a perfect world, remdesivir should be given to anyone,” says Dr. Eyad Almasri of UCSF Fresno.

Dr. Almasri made the comments during a teleconference with reporters and the Fresno County Department of Public Health last week when discussing treatment options for COVID patients.

Remdesivir, a novel antiviral drug, was originally developed in 2002 for the first SARS outbreak and was tried as an Ebola treatment in 2014. Remdesivir has shown promising results treating COVID-19 in laboratory studies but hasn’t been validated on a wide scale for patients.

On May 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for remdesivir as a treatment for suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in seriously ill adults and children.

Almasri’s work on local patients during an initial study at Community Regional Medical Center gives him confidence in its effectiveness against coronavirus.

Local Patient Results Using Remdesivir

So far, 18 patients at CRMC and Clovis Community Hospital have received remdesivir as a COVID-19 treatment. These patients were either critically ill or were on mechanical ventilators. The drug is given through IV for 10 days.

The first patient started using the drug on April 10. Eight days later, the patient’s breathing tube was removed from the patient, who was then released from ICU in two days and went home on May 1. Almasri says he recently had a phone conversation with the patient and he’s doing very well.

The second and third patients had similar benefits and are now home. The fourth patient had the tube removed and is out of intensive care. The fifth patient did not respond and died. Almasri says this patient was sick for almost a month before remdesivir was introduced.

Patients No. 6-18 are alive and doing well. Almasri expects them to all recover.

Almasri made sure to let reporters know he has no financial interest in the drug or its maker, Gilead Sciences. He says he’s not allowed to own the company’s stock for two years because of his participation in the study.

“I think remdesivir is a promising drug,” Almasri said. “I personally have a feeling that it is not enough by itself, but it is probably the best of what we’ve got so far.”

[covid-19-tracker]

Limited Supply

“If we had an unlimited supply of remdesivir, I would have probably given it to people even post-exposure (to COVID),” said Almasri. “Hopefully, any new supply we get, we can use for patients about to be intubated.”

Almasri points out the current supply limitations: “In the future, if we have an abundant, affordable drug (remdesivir), I think we can apply it as soon as we diagnose COVID.”

For now, he’s letting his colleagues use whatever limited supply he has to give to non-intubated patients. He’s continuing with the trial so he’ll have access to the drug for his patients that are seriously ill.

The national stockpile released remdesivir. According to Dr. Rais Vohra, interim Fresno County health officer, the state provided 23 vials to Fresno County. Vohra said that as the supply line expands, Fresno County will get more remdesivir; some counties didn’t get any.

 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Visalia Police Arrest Armed Robbery Suspect at Long John Silver’s

DON'T MISS

Grand Rising Brings Sober Day Party Vibes to Fresno

DON'T MISS

Jack McAuliffe, Who Started a Craft Beer Revolution, Dies at 80

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Leaves One Dead After Car Submerges in Canal

DON'T MISS

Lemoore Farmers Fed Up With Lack of Representation on Groundwater Agency

DON'T MISS

‘Jenny from the Block’ Rescued After Camping Out by Calwa ATM

DON'T MISS

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

DON'T MISS

PBS Has a Future by Leaving the Past Behind: Opinion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Candidate Rassamni Says City Is Investigating Him Amid Allegations by Arias

DON'T MISS

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

UP NEXT

Jack McAuliffe, Who Started a Craft Beer Revolution, Dies at 80

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Leaves One Dead After Car Submerges in Canal

UP NEXT

Lemoore Farmers Fed Up With Lack of Representation on Groundwater Agency

UP NEXT

‘Jenny from the Block’ Rescued After Camping Out by Calwa ATM

UP NEXT

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Candidate Rassamni Says City Is Investigating Him Amid Allegations by Arias

UP NEXT

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

UP NEXT

US Judge Reaffirms Nationwide Injunction Blocking Trump Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

UP NEXT

White House Will Release $5.5 Billion for Schools, After Surprise Delay

UP NEXT

Kern County Fire Issues Evacuation Warnings for Pearl Fire Near Lake Isabella

Fresno Crash Leaves One Dead After Car Submerges in Canal

22 minutes ago

Lemoore Farmers Fed Up With Lack of Representation on Groundwater Agency

1 hour ago

‘Jenny from the Block’ Rescued After Camping Out by Calwa ATM

1 hour ago

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

16 hours ago

PBS Has a Future by Leaving the Past Behind: Opinion

17 hours ago

Fresno Council Candidate Rassamni Says City Is Investigating Him Amid Allegations by Arias

17 hours ago

Fresno First Responders Talk Person Down off Parking Garage Ledge

17 hours ago

Oregon Schools Face Federal Probe Over Transgender Athletes

18 hours ago

US Judge Reaffirms Nationwide Injunction Blocking Trump Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

18 hours ago

White House Will Release $5.5 Billion for Schools, After Surprise Delay

19 hours ago

Visalia Police Arrest Armed Robbery Suspect at Long John Silver’s

A man was arrested Friday evening after allegedly robbing a Visalia Long John Silver’s at knifepoint and attempting to flee through nearby b...

10 minutes ago

Noah Robinson, 38, was arrested after allegedly robbing a Visalia Long John Silver’s at knifepoint and attempting to flee through nearby backyards with $110 in stolen cash on Friday, July 25, 2025. (Visalia PD)
10 minutes ago

Visalia Police Arrest Armed Robbery Suspect at Long John Silver’s

22 minutes ago

Grand Rising Brings Sober Day Party Vibes to Fresno

Craft Brewer Jack McAuliffe With Jim Koch of Samuel Adams
22 minutes ago

Jack McAuliffe, Who Started a Craft Beer Revolution, Dies at 80

fresno
22 minutes ago

Fresno Crash Leaves One Dead After Car Submerges in Canal

South Fork Kings GSA
1 hour ago

Lemoore Farmers Fed Up With Lack of Representation on Groundwater Agency

Shepherd-husky mix Jenny was rescued after spending days outside a Calwa ATM and is now safe, leash-trained, and ready for a new home. (Mell's Mutts)
1 hour ago

‘Jenny from the Block’ Rescued After Camping Out by Calwa ATM

16 hours ago

Tulare Officer Injured in Crash While Trying to Save Unresponsive Infant. Child Dies at Hospital

Signs supporting NPR outside its headquarters in Washington on March 26, 2025. The Trump administration has accused NPR and PBS of using public funds to produce biased coverage and “left-wing propaganda.” (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
17 hours ago

PBS Has a Future by Leaving the Past Behind: Opinion

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend