Quantifying the effect of remdesivir in rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2

Virology. 2020 Nov:550:61-69. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.07.015. Epub 2020 Aug 23.

Abstract

The world is in the midst of a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus and is desperately searching for possible treatments. The antiviral remdesivir has shown some effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in a recent animal study. We use data from a study of remdesivir in rhesus macaques to fit a viral kinetics model in an effort to determine the most appropriate mathematical descripton of the effect of remdesivir. We find statistically significant differences in the viral decay rate and use this to inform a possible mathematical formulation of the effect of remdesivir. Unfortunately, this model formulation suggests that the application of remdesivir will lengthen SARS-CoV-2 infections, putting into question its potential clinical benefit.

Keywords: Antiviral; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Mathematical model; Treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / blood
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / pharmacokinetics
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Alanine / blood
  • Alanine / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • Betacoronavirus / growth & development
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • remdesivir
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Alanine