Data on the efficacy of remdesivir in children aged <12 years or weighing <40 kg are limited. Approval of the drug for use in such patients was based on clinical and pharmacokinetic data from studies in adults and on the results of an unpublished single-arm study (summarized in the package insert) in 53 pediatric patients (41 aged <12 years) who were hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients received IV remdesivir once daily while hospitalized for up to 10 days. The safety and pharmacokinetics of remdesivir in this population were similar to those in adults.

Treatment with remdesivir should be started as soon as possible after symptom onset. The drug should be given by IV infusion once daily over 30-120 minutes. The recommended pediatric dose is 5 mg/kg (max 200 mg) on day 1 and 2.5 mg/kg (max 100 mg) on subsequent days. Treatment should be given for 3 days in high-risk outpatients and for 10 days in hospitalized patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Hospitalized patients not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO should be treated for 5 days, but if clinical improvement does not occur, remdesivir can be continued for up to 5 additional days.