Follow-up of today's conversation
Tony's Diary Package, pp.58-59 · fauci_diary:email:00001
Page text: p.58, p.59 · original PDF
- Date
- 2020-03-18 14:27
- Type
- email · email
- sender
- Anthony S. Fauci
Folks:
When we put together the proposal for the protocols/distribution of
Hydroxychloroquine (HC) and Remdesivir, I feel that it is important that we
do not make the program the same for each. We need to link Remdesivir to
a much more strict protocol as opposed to HC which is an approved drug
and although it has some adverse events, we have tons of experience with
it. I am comfortable with the HC plan as discussed in the Oval. In
contrast, we know much less about the unapproved drug Remdesivir. I have
more concern about the potential toxicities of this unapproved,
investigational drug in the context of COVID-19 as well as the need to prove
that it works before we widely distribute it. The bulk of the data that we
have with Remdesivir is in Ebola where it did not have a clear benefit. We
should consider leading with HC in a flexible distribution protocol and
. Ttaly >31,000
accelerating the clinical trial aspect of Remdesivir. Also, we clearly need to
have a discussion with Gilead about drug supply and the plan for any
accelerated study. Finally, and importantly, the Chinese already have a
clinical trial of Remdesivir with more than 200 people enrolled in the
advanced disease arm of the study. Someone should directly contact the
Chinese investigators (Bin Cao, et al) and find out if they have any
preliminary data on efficacy and safety. In my mind it is imperative that we
find out what they know before we launch any distribution program. Happy
to discuss.
Thanks,
Tony
Anthony S. Fauci, MD
Director
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Building 31, Room 7A-03
31 Center Drive, MSC 2520
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892-2520
Phone: (301) 496-2263
FAX: (301) 496-4409
E-mail: afauci@niaid.nih.gov
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