Introduction
The novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV), officially named severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a newly-emerged
human infectious beta-coronavirus. Since December 2019, it has spread
rapidly, firstly in China, and then worldwide. By early May, over 4
million confirmed cases were found worldwide, with over 280,000 deaths.
Due to the novel nature of the virus, there were no proven therapeutics.
Multiple conventional anti-viral medications were trialled. However,
during clinical treatment of the COVID-19, it has been found that
neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, peramivir, zanamivir),
ganciclovir, acyclovir and ribavirin were not effective [1].
However, an unlisted broad-spectrum antibiotic, Remdesivir, has found
quite some attention in recent times, with it being given Emergency Use
Authorization by the US Food and Drugs Agency (FDA). The drug,
manufactured by US pharmaceutical company Gilead has been commissioned
for multiple drug trials in the US, UK and Singapore [2].