Eli Lilly and Co has said that fewer deaths were reported among Covid-19 patients taking a combination of its rheumatoid arthritis drug and Gilead Sciences Inc's remdesivir in a clinical trial, compared to only the latter, Reuters reported.

In-line with data disclosed in September, the combination helped shorten the median recovery time by one day compared to remdesivir, meeting the study's main goal.

Lilly said 5.1 per cent of patients on the drug combination died after 29 days versus 7.8pc patients given remdesivir, which is already authorized in the US for treating Covid-19 patients, and a placebo.