Remdesivir is the first drug to show effectiveness against COVID-19 and its emergency use has been permitted by several countries.
Gilead Sciences is to trial an inhaled version of remdesivir, a drug which it says shows promise in the treatment of COVID-19.
The pharmaceutical company said in an open letter that it would screen healthy volunteers for Phase 1 trials this week, and aim to start them in August.
Chairman and chief executive Daniel O’Day said: « If the trials are successful, this could represent important progress.
« Remdesivir, our investigational antiviral medicine, is currently given to patients intravenously through daily infusions in the hospital.
« An inhaled formulation would be given through a nebuliser, which could potentially allow for easier administration outside the hospital, at earlier stages of disease.
« That could have significant implications in helping to stem the tide of the pandemic.
