E-DRUG: WHO: Solidarity Therapeutics Trial produces conclusive evidence on
the effectiveness of repurposed drugs for COVID-19 in record time
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[First results from the ongoing WHO Solidarity Trial published, showing no
or very little effect of 4 different drug regimens on 28 days mortality when
used in hospital. The Solidarity Trial continues with other drugs. KM,
co-moderator]
15 October 2020 News release Geneva
In just six months, the world's largest randomized control trial on COVID-19
therapeutics has generated conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of
repurposed drugs for the treatment of COVID-19.
Interim results from the Solidarity Therapeutics Trial, coordinated by the
World Health Organization, indicate that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine,
lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens appeared to have little or no
effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of COVID-19 among
hospitalized patients.
The study, which spans more than 30 countries, looked at the effects of
these treatments on overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and
duration of hospital stay in hospitalized patients. Other uses of the drugs,
for example in treatment of patients in the community or for prevention,
would have to be examined using different trials.
The progress achieved by the Solidarity Therapeutics Trial shows that large
international trials are possible, even during a pandemic, and offer the
promise of quickly and reliably answering critical public health questions
concerning therapeutics.
The results of the trial are under review for publication in a medical
journal and have been uploaded as preprint at medRxiv available at this
link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.15.20209817v1
The global platform of the Solidarity Trial is ready to rapidly evaluate
promising new treatment options, with nearly 500 hospitals open as trial
sites.
Newer antiviral drugs, immunomodulators and anti-SARS COV-2 monoclonal
antibodies are now being considered for evaluation.
"Kirsten Myhr" <myhr@online.no>
E-DRUG@Healthnet.org