The makers of remdesivir and Washington say a major study’s shown the drug shortens the recovery time from COVID-19 by four days on average.

It’s the first treatment to pass such a strict test.

The study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, tested it versus usual care in over 1,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients around the world.

N-I-H’s Dr. Anthony Fauci says remdesivir was able to reduce the recovery of patients by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those given usual care.

Dr. Fauci says what it’s proven is that a drug can block the virus.

”This will be the standard of care.”

He adds there was also a trend toward fewer deaths among those taking remdesivir, and that results would soon be published in a medical journal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been talking with the makers of the drug ”regarding making remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible, as appropriate.”

Having a treatment could have a major impact on the pandemic since health experts say any vaccine is likely a year, or more, away.