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

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

One of the treatments, an antiviral called remdesivir made by US pharma firm Gilead, has been tested on humans for the Zaire Ebola strain, but not for Bundibugyo.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Rwanda has received 5,100 vials of remdesivir, an antiviral drug from Gilead Science used to combat Ebola in the past, to help fight the virus.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2024

Like remdesivir, obeldesivir could continue to be tested in humans for effectiveness and, if appropriate, rapidly deployed against susceptible novel coronaviruses that might emerge.

From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2024

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