One lot of Veklury (remdesivir), used to treat COVID-19, has been recalled after a glass particle was found in a vial.

RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

1. Voluntary Recall Due to Glass Particle Contamination: Gilead has recalled one lot of Veklury (remdesivir) after confirming the presence of a glass particle in a vial following a customer complaint.
2. Potential Health Risks Identified: The FDA warns that injectable products containing glass particles can lead to serious complications, including stroke or death, though no adverse events have been reported so far.
3. Veklury Used for COVID-19 Treatment: Veklury is indicated for treating high-risk COVID-19 patients, including those hospitalized or with mild-to-moderate illness, making the recall significant for ongoing COVID-19 care.

Gilead Sciences Inc has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of Veklury (remdesivir) for Injection 100 mg/vial, to the consumer level. Gilead received a customer complaint and confirmed the presence of a glass particle in the vial during the company’s investigation.

Veklury is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients who are hospitalized or not hospitalized, have mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

According to a bulletin from the US Food and Drug Administration, the administration of an injectable product that contains glass particles may result in local irritation or swelling in response to the foreign material. The glass particulate can potentially travel through the blood vessels to various organs and block blood vessels in the heart, lungs, or brain, which can cause stroke and even lead to death. 

To date, Gilead has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

ID 237870606 © Valerio Rosati | Dreamstime.com