Samples of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine are seen at a vaccine production plant of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2020.Photo:Xinhua

Two clinical trials of the COVID-19 drug remdesivir have been suspended or terminated in China due to the containment of the outbreak in the country and a lack of eligible patients. 

According to information from the US website for tracking clinical trials clinicaltrials.gov, the randomized double blind trial of remdesivir in adults with mild and moderate COVID-19 in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province has been suspended on Wednesday, more than two months after it was first carried out on February 6. 

According to the recruitment status, it is because "COVID-19 has been controlled quite well in China," and the trial is unable to enroll suitable patients now. Another trial of the drug in adults with severe COVID-19 symptoms, supposed to take place in Beijing, was also terminated for the same reason. 

Gilead Sciences Inc, the company who is developing the drug said that the drug has yet to obtain approval from the regulators, and the safety and effectiveness of the drug is undergoing multifaceted research, according to a report by thepaper.com. 

The data of third phase clinical trials are expected to come out in the next few weeks, according to Gilead, cited in the report by thepaper.com. 

The first result of the clinical trials of remdesivir was published on April 11 on the New England Journal of Medicine. The result shows that out of 53 patients with severe COVID-19 from the US, Europe, Canada and Japan, 68 percent of the patients' clinical symptoms improved by taking the drug. But 60 percent of patients displayed adverse effects after taking the drug.

Global Times