What are the prospects of a treatment for coronavirus? (Guardian)
Guardian science journalists pick out the most promising remedies and ask whether there is any evidence that they could work
Hannah Devlin and Ian Sample
Published: 14:29 Thursday, 19 March 2020
The anti-malaria drug: chloroquine
Chloroquine is a cheap, widely available drug that has been routinely used since 1945 against malaria and other conditions and can be safely taken by pregnant women and children. Lab studies found the antiviral drug was effective against the coronavirus, at least in a petri dish, and results from a small French study in 24 patients, announced this week, suggested that it could quicken recovery. Doctors said 25% of patients who received the drug tested positive for the virus after six days, compared with 90% of those who did not receive it.
... The HIV treatment drug: Kaletra
Kaletra is a combination of two antiviral medicines, lopinavir and ritonavir, that are normally used to treat HIV, which lab studies suggested held promise as a potential Covid-19 treatment. However, these hopes suffered a significant setback this week with one of the first major studies in 200 seriously ill patients from China finding no benefit.
... The anti-flu drug: favipiravir
The Japanese flu drug, made by a subsidiary of Fujifilm, has created a stir by more than halving the time that people with Covid-19 test positive for the virus. A Chinese trial in 340 people showed that the virus tended to be cleared in four days in those who received the drug, versus 11 days in those who went without. Chest scans supported the findings, revealing less damage in those who took the drug. But the antiviral, also known as Avigan, may need to be given before virus levels peak in the body.
A couple more here
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/mar/19/prospects-treatment-coronavirus-drugs-vaccines?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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