News Release
May 12, 2020
The Texas Department of State
Health Services is distributing 1,200 vials of the drug remdesivir to hospitals
to treat patients with COVID-19. The antiviral medication, which has shown
promise in early trials in speeding up the recovery time among hospitalized COVID-19
patients, has been provided by the federal government from a supply donated by
Gilead, the manufacturer.
The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services sent Texas 30 cases of remdesivir, enough to treat approximately
120 patients. Each case contains 40 vials of the drug. DSHS consulted on the distribution
rationale with the Texas Hospital Association, Texas Medical Association, and
the Rapid Assessment Subcommittee of the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease
Preparedness and Response.
Texas is shipping the limited
supply today to 15 hospitals in 14 communities, ensuring that patients in
regions across the state will have access to the drug while providing
additional supplies to areas that have had more COVID-19 cases. Additionally,
some hospitals in Texas are able to receive remdesivir through clinical trials
or the manufacturer’s expanded access program. Where that’s the case, the state
supply is being directed to other facilities in the area.
The following hospitals and health
care systems will receive at least one case of remdesivir:
- Amarillo:
Northwest Texas Healthcare System, 2 cases
- Austin:
Dell Seton Medical Center, 3 cases
- Corpus
Christi: CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, 1 case
- Dallas:
Parkland Memorial Hospital, 4 cases
- El
Paso: University Medical Center, 2 cases
- Fort
Worth: John Peter Smith Hospital, 3 cases
- Houston:
Ben Taub Hospital & Memorial Hermann Hospital System, 6 cases
- Laredo:
Laredo Medical Center, 1 case
- Lubbock:
University Medical Center, 1 case
- McAllen:
South Texas Health System, 1 case
- Odessa:
Medical Center Hospital, 1 case
- San
Antonio: University Hospital System, 3 cases
- Tyler:
Mother Frances Hospital, 1 case
- Waco:
Providence Health Center, 1 case
Medical staff at each hospital will
determine how the drug will be used, though it must be prescribed in accordance
with the Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency
Use Authorization,
allowing for the treatment of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in adults and
children hospitalized with severe disease. Preliminary results from a clinical
trial showed the average recovery time among patients who received remdesivir was
11 days versus 15 days with a placebo. Those preliminary results did not show
significant survival benefit.
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