Colorado distributes first doses of experimental COVID-19 treatment

DENVER -- The Colorado State Unified Command Group has received an initial shipment of an experimental anti-viral drug called remdesivir.

According to a statement sent to KRDO Wednesday, the UCG received enough doses to treat about 100 COVID-19 patients from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Although the drug is still in experimental stages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization to use remedesivir for treatment of hospitalized patients.

Remdesivir has been associated with faster recovery for hospitalized patients according to preliminary results of a randomized controlled clinical trial, said state officials in the statement.

The release said doses are being distributed "in proportion to the number of COVID-19 cases and persons under investigation occurring at each hospital system." The decisions about who should receive a dose will be made by physicians and their patients based on recommendations under the Emergency Use Authorization protocol.

KRDO has calls out to specify which hospitals will get the treatment.