CHLOROQUINE AND
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE (SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAME PLAQUENIL AND OTHERS):
The medicines have
been used for centuries to treat malaria, which is caused by a parasite, unlike
the coronavirus. Some studies have found it can still be effective in treating
and preventing SARS, a close relative of COVID-19.
One of those studies was conducted in primate cells in 2005
amid the SARS outbreak, but never used as treatment as the disease was
contained, Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonologist and internist at Lenox Hill
Hospital told The Post.
“There was no reason to use it at that time but looking
back, there was a feeling it could be used to reduce the possibility of being
infected or as treatment,” for coronavirus, especially since “we know that its
tolerated in people,” Horovitz said
A recent French study of hydroxychloroquine, sold under the
brand name Plaquenil, was also promising — reporting that after 24 patients
were treated for six days with the drug, the virus had disappeared in all but a
quarter of them. But the research hasn’t yet been peer reviewed or published.
Horovitz warned that the drug hasn’t been approved as
treatment for coronavirus.
“If you decide you’re going to take chloroquine, it doesn’t
mean you should abandon all the prevention methods — it doesn’t take the place
of social distancing,” he said.
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are also among four
treatments being tested in an international clinical trial announced Wednesday
by the World Health Organization.
REMDESIVIR
Originally tested as an Ebola treatment, Gilead Sciences’
experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir has been found to work against SARS and
MERS, two other coronaviruses.
The drug works by shutting off the virus’ ability to
replicate inside cells.
Multiple trials are underway to evaluate the drug in China
and other countries, and in the US, last month the National Institutes of
Health began a randomized trial for the treatment of COVID-19 using the
antiviral.
“There are promising therapies produced by Gilead and that’s
Remdesivir,” Trump said Thursday. “It seems to have a very good result, having
to do with this virus.”
FAVIPIRAVIR (AVIGAN)
The Japanese anti-flu drug developed by a subsidiary of
Fujifilm has had encouraging outcomes in clinical
trials in China.
Patients who were given the drug in Shenzhen tested negative
for the virus after a median of four days after becoming positive. That was
compared with a median of 11 days for those who were not given the medicine,
Japanese public broadcaster NHK said.
Chest scans supported the findings, revealing less damage in
those who took the drug. But some officials said it may not be effective in
people who are already severely ill.
LLPINAVIR AND
RITONAVIR (KALETRA)
Lab studies have suggested that the HIV drug Kaletra — which
is a combination of antivirals lopinavir and ritonavir — could be effective in
treating COVID-19.
The meds belong to a class of drugs known as protease
inhibitors, which block a key enzyme that helps viruses replicate. Previous
studies found the mixture was helpful in preventing SARS from maturing and
replicating.
Doctors in Thailand and Japan have reported using lopinavir
and ritonavir to successfully treat the coronavirus — but a recent study in
China of 200 seriously ill patients found that it had no benefit.
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