CLEVELAND, Ohio – University Hospitals in Cleveland are taking the next step in fighting COVID-19, securing two clinical trials that will provide an antiviral drug to adults who have been hospitalized with pneumonia due to the virus.

Leaders of the study are hoping to test around 1000 people nationwide.

"Because there's no other treatment now so it's really exciting to see a drug that could hit the virus itself, not just supportive care," said Dr. Grace McComsey, a doctor at University Hospitals.

The trial should provide information on whether the drug can help lower fevers and normalize oxygen saturation in patients.

The drug is federally regulated and was safely tested on more than 500 people during the Ebola outbreak.