March 23 COVID-19 roundup: Gilead looks to expand access to remdesivir, antiviral gains Orphan designation; plus N.Y.’s chloroquine trial, Celltrion and more

As Gilead begins shifting its individual compassionate use authorizations for COVID-19 candidate remdesivir to broader expanded access programs, the antiviral was granted Orphan Drug designation Monday. The day also saw several companies begin work on antibody-based therapeutics and coronavirus testing kits.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), which has provided emergency access to remdesivir for several hundred patients, said an increase in compassionate use requests “flooded an emergency treatment access system that was set up for very limited access to investigational medicines and never intended for use in response to a pandemic.”...