The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the antiviral drug remdesivir for children ages 28 days and older.
With the decision, the drug becomes the first approved treatment for COVID-19 for children younger than age 12.
According to the FDA, the drug can be used on children who are hospitalized or who have mild to moderate disease and are at risk of progressing to severe.
Since the pandemic began, 12,937,304 children have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The drug, made by Gilead Sciences, is sold as Veklury.
It had been approved for the treatment of certain adults and patients 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds. It’s given intravenously.
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