The double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the antiviral drug Remdesivir, a possible treatment of the novel coronavirus, is underway in Wuhuan, and received recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO), during a press conference on Friday. 

"Remdesivir is currently the strongest in antiviral activity in vitro, but there is lack of clinical trial evidence," said Zhao Jianping, expert of medical treatment unit of Hubei. Also the director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Zhao added that the efficacy and safety of the drug must be tested with scientific attitudes.

Regarding when the drug will be ready for treatment, Zhao said that there are strict criteria for evaluating the scientific efficacy of new drugs, they can be applied to patients after achieving the desired effect. 

"From the use of foreign patients, the drug has no obvious adverse reactions," said the expert, adding that the treatment of patients who received placebos in the clinic trial of the new drug won't be delayed.

"There's about a 66 percent chance that you'll take the new drug if you joined the research," said Zhao. "The standard treatments won't stop during the trial."

So far, there are 35 organizations in Wuhan that can conduct nucleic acid test to confirmed suspected cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, and the daily testing capacity has increased from 200 per day to 6,000 to 8,000 per day, Hu Yabo, administrative deputy mayor of Wuhan, said during the Friday press conference. 

"The condition of the outbreak is still severe, we will continue to improve our testing ability," he said.

(Top image via VCG)