Remdesivir (Veklury)
Pronunciation: (rem-DE-si-veer).
- Generic name
- remdesivir
- Brand names
- Veklury
- Drug class
- Antiviral — SARS-CoV-2 nucleotide analog RNA polymerase inhibitor
- Legal status
- Prescription-only; administered in healthcare settings
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States
Australia: · Full directory
What remdesivir is and how it works
Remdesivir (US brand name Veklury) is an antiviral medicine used to treat COVID-19. It belongs to a class of medicines that block the machinery the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to copy its genetic material (an RNA polymerase inhibitor), which limits the virus's ability to multiply in the body. It is approved in the United States for adults and for children from birth who weigh at least 1.5 kg, either when they are hospitalized with COVID-19 or when they have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are at high risk of getting seriously ill. Remdesivir is not a tablet you take at home: it is given only as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional, with each infusion running over 30 to 120 minutes. (1)
What remdesivir is used for
COVID-19 in hospitalized patients
Treatment of COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (from birth, weighing at least 1.5 kg) who are hospitalized. Patients not needing invasive ventilation are usually treated for 5 days, which the care team may extend to 10 days if there is no clinical improvement; patients on mechanical ventilation or ECMO are treated for 10 days. (1)
Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in people at high risk (not hospitalized)
A 3-day course for people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are not hospitalized but are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. (1)
Before taking remdesivir
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Remdesivir is not given to anyone with a history of clinically significant hypersensitivity (serious allergic) reaction to remdesivir or any component of the product. (United States) (1)
Tell your clinician about
(1)How to take remdesivir
- Remdesivir is prepared and given by healthcare professionals as an intravenous (IV) infusion into a vein; you do not take it yourself.
- Each infusion runs over 30 to 120 minutes. The team may use the slower rate to reduce the chance of an infusion reaction.
- You are monitored during the infusion and observed for at least 1 hour afterwards.
- The number of daily infusions (3, 5, or up to 10 days) depends on your situation and is set by the treating team.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)
Missed dose
Remdesivir doses are scheduled and given by the hospital or infusion clinic team, so patients do not manage missed doses themselves. If an appointment or dose is delayed or missed, the treating team adjusts the schedule.
Overdose
Remdesivir is dosed and administered by healthcare professionals, and no specific antidote is described in the label. If too much were given, the clinical team manages it with supportive monitoring and treatment in the healthcare setting. (1)
Side effects
Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.
Nausea
What to notice: One of the most common side effects (reported in at least 5% of patients in clinical trials).
What to do: Tell the care team if it is severe or persistent. (1)
Increased liver enzymes (ALT and AST)
What to notice: Seen on blood tests rather than felt; among the most common findings in clinical trials.
What to do: The care team monitors liver blood tests during treatment and acts on the results. (1)
Signs of an allergic or infusion reaction after leaving the clinic
What to notice: Rash, swelling, wheezing, breathlessness, feeling faint.
What to do: Seek prompt medical attention; call emergency services for facial or throat swelling or trouble breathing. (1)
Possible liver problems
What to notice: Yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, right-upper-abdominal pain, unusual tiredness.
What to do: Report to the treating team promptly so liver tests can be checked. (1)
Serious warnings
Hypersensitivity, including infusion-related and anaphylactic reactions — emergency
Symptoms: Changes in blood pressure or heart rate, low oxygen, fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat (angioedema), rash, nausea, sweating, or shivering — during or after the infusion.
Action: Tell the infusion staff immediately if any of these symptoms start; the clinical team treats reactions and decides how the infusion proceeds. After discharge from the observation period, seek emergency care for any new swelling of the face or throat or difficulty breathing. (1)
Liver enzyme (transaminase) elevations — serious
Symptoms: Usually found on blood tests rather than felt; possible signs of liver inflammation include yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pain in the upper right abdomen, or unusual tiredness.
Action: The care team checks liver blood tests before and during treatment and decides whether treatment continues based on the results. Report any of the symptoms above to the treating team promptly. (1)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate | Coadministration is not recommended — it may reduce remdesivir's antiviral activity. | Make sure the treating team knows about these medicines before treatment starts. (1) |
| Other medicines, supplements, and vaccines | Formal drug-interaction studies with remdesivir are limited. | Give the care team a complete list of everything you take so they can review it. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Pregnancy
Available data from clinical trials and post-marketing use in the second and third trimester have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects or poor maternal or fetal outcomes; data on first-trimester use are insufficient. Whether remdesivir is used in pregnancy is a decision made with the treating clinician. (1)
Breastfeeding
Remdesivir has been detected in human breast milk. The decision to breastfeed during treatment weighs the benefits of treatment and of breastfeeding against the potential risk, together with the care team. (1)
Children
Approved from birth for children weighing at least 1.5 kg, with weight-based dosing below 40 kg. (1)
Kidney_impairment
Per the current (10/2025) label, no dose adjustment is recommended for any degree of kidney impairment, including patients on dialysis. (1)
Liver_impairment
No dose adjustment is recommended for mild, moderate, or severe liver impairment; liver blood tests are performed as clinically appropriate. (1)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Liver blood tests (hepatic laboratory testing) before treatment begins
- Review of allergy history, current medicines (including chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine), pregnancy and breastfeeding status
During treatment
- Observation during each infusion and for at least 1 hour after it completes
- Liver blood tests during treatment as clinically appropriate — the treating team acts on the results
Storage
Remdesivir is stored, reconstituted (with Sterile Water for Injection), and diluted (in 0.9% sodium chloride) by the hospital pharmacy or clinical team, and prepared solutions are used within the label's specified hold times. Patients do not store or handle this medicine at home.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. This section does not replace current product labeling.
United States
Indication: COVID-19 (hospitalized; or non-hospitalized mild-to-moderate at high risk of progression)
Dose summary: Adults and pediatric patients ≥40 kg: 200 mg IV loading dose on day 1, then 100 mg IV once daily. Pediatric 1.5 kg to <40 kg: 5 mg/kg IV loading dose day 1, then 2.5 mg/kg IV once daily. Duration: 3 days (non-hospitalized, mild-to-moderate, high-risk); 5 days extendable to 10 (hospitalized, not on invasive ventilation); 10 days (invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO). Infuse over 30–120 minutes.
Renal context: No dosage adjustment recommended in any degree of renal impairment, including dialysis, per the 10/2025 label revision. (1)
Frequently asked questions
Is remdesivir a cure for COVID-19?
No. Remdesivir is an antiviral treatment that limits the virus's ability to multiply. In the approved settings it is used to treat COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, or to reduce the risk of progression in non-hospitalized people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk of severe disease. (1)
Can I take remdesivir at home as a tablet?
No. Remdesivir is given only as an intravenous infusion by a healthcare professional, either in hospital or at a facility able to give IV treatment, with monitoring during the infusion and for at least an hour afterwards. (1)
Why are liver blood tests done before and during treatment?
Increases in liver enzymes (ALT and AST) have been observed with remdesivir. The care team checks liver tests before starting and during treatment as clinically appropriate, and decides on any changes to treatment based on the results. (1)
Can remdesivir be used with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine?
Coadministration with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate is not recommended, because it may reduce remdesivir's antiviral activity. Always give the care team a full list of your medicines. (1)
Is 'Remdesivi' a different medicine from remdesivir?
No — 'remdesivi' is a historical misspelling in this site's records. The medicine described on this page is remdesivir, marketed in the United States as Veklury by Gilead Sciences. (1)
What is the generic name of Remdesivir (Veklury)?
The generic name is remdesivir. It is sold under brand names including Veklury.
What class of drug is remdesivir?
Remdesivir (Veklury) is classed as: Antiviral — SARS-CoV-2 nucleotide analog RNA polymerase inhibitor.
References
- VEKLURY (remdesivir) injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution — prescribing information, Gilead Sciences, revised 10/2025US FDA prescribing information via DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) · United States · dated 2025-10 · accessed 2026-08-08 · source 1
- Remdesivir Injection — patient drug information (MedlinePlus)U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
- Veklury — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA NDA214787)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
- remdesivir — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 2284718)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient remdesivir names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- Veklury100 mg · gilead sciences, inc.