LONDON – The European Medicines Agency says it has started a safety review after some patients taking the coronavirus drug remdesivir reported serious kidney problems.In a statement on Friday, the EU regulator said it isn’t clear whether remdesivir was causing the “acute kidney injury,” but that the issue “warrants further investigation.”Remdesivir was given a conditional marketing authorization by the EMA on July 3 and can be used to treat people older than age 12 with severe COVID-19 and pneumonia who require oxygen treatment.
The approval for the drug was fast-tracked with the understanding that more evidence would be submitted after a license was granted.