The European Medicines Agency said Thursday it has recommended authorising the use of anti-viral drug remdesivir to treat the new coronavirus.

"Remdesivir is the first medicine against COVID-19 to be recommended for authorisation in the EU," the agency said, adding that the recommendation still needs approval from the European Commission.

At least two major US studies have shown that remdesivir can reduce the duration of hospital stays for COVID-19 patients.  Research published in the leading journal the New England Journal of Medicine in May showed that injections of remdesivir -- which was originally intended as treatment against Ebola -- speeded patient recovery compared with a placebo.

EMA's human medicines committee said it has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation to remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with pneumonia who require extra oxygen.