Taiwan approves Gilead's remdesivir to treat COVID-19

FILE PHOTO: Cars and motorbikes are seen during rush hour in Taipei, Taiwan, May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Ann Wang

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's government said on Saturday it had approved Gilead Sciences' potential COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir, to treat the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

Governments are racing to bolster supplies of remdesivir, which U.S. regulators this month approved for emergency use. California-based Gilead has said it will donate 1.5 million doses of remdesivir, enough to treat at least 140,000 patients, to combat the global pandemic.