This pandemic has everybody worked up. So as scientists further their research towards a working vaccine, doctors are using the antiviral medication known as Remdesivir to help reduce risk from COVID-19. The drug was developed as a way to treat viral infections such as Ebola, MERS, SARS, and even COVID-19.
The medication is not an end all be all solution. Rather it works as a way to slow down the spread of the virus throughout the body. TIME published a virtual representation of the virus shown below:
This image is depicting the virus entering a cell.
Once the virus enters the cell it releases its genetic code (RNA strands) into the cell. That genetic code equips the cell with the means of creating more copies of the virus
The RNA then attaches itself to the chromosomes of the cell replacing the original cells own RNA with the virus’ RNA and protein synthesis begins for the virus.
In order for the RNA strand to be duplicated it must use the viral proteins created from the original RNA strand. So, the proteins continuously copy themselves within the ribosomes until a completely copied strand of RNA is produced.
A newly formed virus then leaves the cell with guidance from the host cell, and spreads throughout the body to infect other healthy cells.
Now this is the part where Remdesivir kicks in. The drug can act as a false substrate in the enzyme of the ribosomes. Attaching the particles with an incomplete RNA copy. Which deters the production of the virus in the cells.
The creation of defective RNA strands leads to defective virus that can not insert it’s genetic code into other cells.
As you can see from the GIF’s above, Remdisivir is NOT a cure. Rather it is an ointment to quicken the recovery process. Right now it is only being administered to patients in severe condition, due to the way it has to be administered, which is an IV infusion. IV bags are only given to patients in the ICU units or people in severe condition.
A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine shows results of patients who used Remdesivir during their recovery. Of the 61 patients observed (8 patients could not be analyzed) 36/53 showed improvements in respiratory functions, a 68% effective rate. 25 of the 53 were discharged (47%), and a mortality rate of 7/53 (13%). The normal mortality rate of ICU patients is 26%, presumably without the use of remdesivir, or significantly smaller doses of Remdesivir. The numbers don’t lie. But I believe that it should be looked into by the FDA first before it can go mainstream, because anything can happen in one study.
https://time.com/5839932/how-remdesivir-works-coronavirus/
Science Now 
Very well written and easy to understand with nice GIF
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