Some patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 are to be given access to the drug remdesivir, which has been shown to shorten recovery time.
Doctors will now be able to prescribe the drug to adults and adolescents who have a severe Covid-19 infection where there is a likelihood it will benefit them.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the UK Government is working with manufacturer Gilead Sciences to supply remdesivir treatment to some NHS patients.
Earlier this month, a global clinical trial, which is continuing, found that remdesivir cut the length of time people suffered symptoms from 15 days to 11.