Remdesivir reduces graft loss in kidney transplant recipients

A target trial emulation study published in JAMA Network Open on July 28, 2026, found that early treatment with remdesivir (Veklury, manufactured by Gilead Sciences) within 7 days of COVID-19 diagnosis and for at least 3 consecutive days was associated with a 47% lower risk of all-cause graft loss and a 42% lower risk of cardiovascular events among adult kidney transplant recipients, compared to those who did not receive remdesivir. The study, led by Nitipong Permpalung and first author Karan Srisurapanont of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, analyzed 432 kidney transplant recipients treated at five Johns Hopkins hospitals in United States — Maryland between March 2020 and January 2024. After weighting to adjust for confounding by indication, early remdesivir was associated with reduced risks for graft loss and cardiovascular events, but not for all-cause mortality or long COVID. The findings support current CDC and IDSA guidelines recommending early antiviral therapy for high-risk patients and extend evidence to a population often excluded from randomized trials.