Researcher plays down talk of anti-virus drug success

Rumor: The US drug remdesivir had achieved a remarkable effect on 761 patients participating in the first day of the drug's clinical trial.

Fact:

Remdesivir, a drug being developed by United States-based pharmaceutical company Gilead, was being tested to see whether it could be used to treat patients with pneumonia caused by the virus in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, in Wuhan, the outbreak epicenter, on Wednesday.

On Thursday evening rumors began spreading online saying the first day of trial had achieved a remarkable effect on 761 patients participating in the research.

But Cao Bin, vice-president of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, dismissed this, saying research has only just started and no results have been achieved yet, according to a report by China Youth Daily.

In a statement at the end of last month, Gilead said remdesivir had not gained approval to enter the market in any country, and its safety and effectiveness had not been proven.