CAPE TOWN- Results from the world’s largest randomised control trial on Covid-19 therapeutics has found conclusive evidence showing that repurposed drugs including remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine were ineffective for hospitalized patients.
Coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) the Solidarity Therapeutics Trial examined 11,266 adults from 30 countries and looked at the effects of various treatments on overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and duration of hospital stay for patients.
Interim results from the trial indicate that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens had little or no effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of Covid-19 among hospitalized patients.
What are these drugs deemed ineffective?
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Remdesivir is an anti-viral medication which has been given emergency use authorization to help severe Covid-19 patients.
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Hydroxychloroquine is a decades-old malaria drug. The drug is proven to work in treating Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, but not Covid-19.
- The combination product,
lopinavir and ritonavir, is used with other HIV medications to help control HIV infection.
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Interferons are natural chemicals that are secreted as part of the immune response to viral infections.
Newer antiviral drugs, immunomodulators and anti-SARS COV-2 monoclonal antibodies are now being considered for evaluation.
The global platform of the Solidarity Trial is ready to rapidly evaluate promising new treatment options, with nearly 500 hospitals open as trial sites.
https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1317022759948607490
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