remdesivir

American  

[rem-des-uh-veer] / ˌrɛmˈdɛs ə vɪər /

noun

1. an antiviral medicine, first used to fight the Ebola virus, that prevents an RNA-based virus from reproducing within an infected cell by blocking it from replicating its viral genome.

   The hunt was on to find older antiviral drugs like remdesivir that could be repurposed to treat the new virus.

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Etymology

Origin of remdesivir

First recorded in 2015–20; rem- prefix of unknown origin + -desi- infix, probably an alteration of adenosine , designating an adenosine analog + -vir shortening of virus or viral , a combining form designating an antiviral compound; see adenosine ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

remdesivir

Its drug remdesivir, which was used to treat Covid, also inhibited the Bundibugyo strain in one lab study.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

However Geisbert said that during tests in his lab, remdesivir had "stronger in vitro data against Bundibugyo than it does for Zaire".

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have been working on an oral antiviral drug of the parent nucleoside of remdesivir that could stop replication of the virus.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2024

Dr Mark Faghy said the nine-month project would test remdesivir, which had been used to treat acute Covid.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2023

Regardless of the new mutations in Pirola, Chin-Hong said, the anti-COVID therapeutic drugs Paxlovid and remdesivir should remain effective.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2023