A drug to treat coronavirus infections will start clinical trials at seven local hospitals from Monday at the earliest, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists says.

Hong Kong saw one more case yesterday, taking the total to 116 - 115 confirmed cases and one probable.

Developed by Gilead Sciences originally to treat Ebola patients, the drug, remdesivir, will be used on local patients as part of clinical trials in several countries to see if it is safe and effective.

Globally the drug will be tested on 400 patients who are in serious condition to see whether it helps restore normal body temperature and oxygen level in blood.

It will also be used on 600 patients suffering from moderate infection worldwide to see if those who have taken the drug can recover and be discharged sooner.

Both trials are expected to be completed in May.

The drug will be used at Queen Mary, Prince of Wales, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern, United Christian and Tuen Mun hospitals.

The drug, which has been used at mainland hospitals in clinical trials, will arrive from Singapore on Monday at the earliest.

Remdesivir has also been found to have antiviral effects on, among others, corona, Lassa, Nipah and Hendra viruses.

The Hospital Authority last week said there is limited known information about the drug as it is still being tested but there could be side effects in a patient's liver.

News of the trials came as Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of communicable diseases at the Centre for Health Protection, said the 116th case is a 44-year-old Indian who works as a driver of the 106th case, a 56-year-old Hong Kong businessman of Indian ethnicity who lives in Mid-Levels. The driver picked up the businessman at the airport on Wednesday and drove him to Canossa Hospital in Mid-Levels and Ruttonjee Hospital the following day.

The driver was confirmed with the virus yesterday.

The 115th case is a 59-year-old Yuen Long woman who went on a tour to India from January 31 to February 24. She is the fifth local member of the 21-member tour confirmed with the coronavirus.

Her husband is quarantined while her son, daughter and domestic helper will be quarantined. Her dog will also be sent to a facility under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for quarantine.

Benny Tai

Seven hospitals to test virus drug