U.S. gives full approval to 1st COVID-19 drug for young children

The U.S. drug regulator on Monday granted the first full approval for treating COVID-19 in children aged 28 days and older to Gilead Sciences Inc’s GILD.O drug remdesivir.

The move comes months after the agency expanded the drug’s emergency use authorization to also include children below 12 years of age weighing at least 3.5 kilograms.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision makes the drug the first approved COVID-19 treatment for children less than 12 years of age, the agency said.

Children who are in hospital, have mild-to moderate disease or are at high risk for severe COVID-19 are eligible for the approval.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni)