Today a press release was posted that claimed the use of the generic, anti-inflammatory corticosteroid dexamethasone could reduce mortality from severe COVID-19 lung infection by 1/3. This was remarkable given that this drug is well known and already available in large supply. It would cost less than $50 for a course of treatment. The sideContinue reading “Dexamethasone: Another turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic, or another colossal disappointment?”
Category Archives: Repurposing Drugs
Hydroxychloroquine continues to be unimpressive when used to treat COVID.
In the largest study to date, hydroxychloroquine failed to show benefits when treating COVID patients. Of interest, as compared to some other reports, it also did not show harm. The study was funded by the NIH, conducted by researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, and publishedContinue reading “Hydroxychloroquine continues to be unimpressive when used to treat COVID.”
Truly Good News: FDA Approval for Remdesivir
The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it has provided Emergency Use Approval (EUA) for remdesivir in treating coronavirus patients who require hospitalization. With this approval, the drug is only available if administered intravenously, once a day for up to 10 days. No oral use of remdesivir has been tested or approved. EUA isContinue reading “Truly Good News: FDA Approval for Remdesivir”
Confirmed: Government Trial Shows Efficacy for Remdesivir in COVID Infection!
A placebo-controlled, government run trial of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 infection reportedly met its “primary efficacy endpoint” according to Gilead Sciences. Having shown efficacy in this large, controlled trial could help to resolve the questions raised in prior testing of the drug. NIH has now issued a statement about the trial outcome. In it theyContinue reading “Confirmed: Government Trial Shows Efficacy for Remdesivir in COVID Infection!”
Breaking: Government Trial Shows Efficacy for Remdesivir in COVID Infection
A placebo-controlled, government run trial of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 infection reportedly met its “primary efficacy endpoint” according to Gilead Sciences. While we are waiting for more information on the results, having shown efficacy in this large (800 patient), controlled trial could help to resolve the questions raised in prior testing of the drug. MoreContinue reading “Breaking: Government Trial Shows Efficacy for Remdesivir in COVID Infection”
NYC Passes the 25% Threshold While Anti-IL6 Results Confound
The latest COVID-19 figures from NYC are in and they are as impressive as the Skyline! Governor Cuomo announced that 25% of NYC residents are positive on COVID antibody (blood) testing, while 15% of NY State residents are positive. This means that when the blood test was done, 25% of NYC residents and 15% ofContinue reading “NYC Passes the 25% Threshold While Anti-IL6 Results Confound”
Whipsawed by Remdesivir
In the last few weeks we have been given bizarrely conflicting information about the use of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 infection. This antiviral drug appeared to have the most promise to treat COVID-19, as it demonstrated a well-defined mechanism of action specific for the virus. It also had shown some efficacy in other, similar viralContinue reading “Whipsawed by Remdesivir”
Thursday night news we might not want…
Two pieces of news tonight. A preliminary Chinese study that was accidentally leaked by the WHO suggested that remdesivir was not effective in treating COVID-19 patients. STAT News found the study on the WHO website , and it undercuts the hope that this antiviral drug might be useful in treating COVID-19. Like many of theContinue reading “Thursday night news we might not want…”
Chloroquine flatlines?
Chloroquine is a drug that has a poorly defined mechanism of antiviral action It also has significant toxicity It is unlikely to be a therapeutic option for COVID-19. Given the good news about remdesivir, I thought it would be an appropriate time to review the status of chloroquine, the other drug that initially was reportedContinue reading “Chloroquine flatlines?”
Remdesivir Rises!
I called out the potential of remdesivir on Monday, only to watch it drop 3% on Tuesday. Today, on literally a whisper that the drug might work for COVID-19, the stock was up 16% after a report that one of the Phase III studies was positive. The report suggested that very ill COVID-19 patients recoveredContinue reading “Remdesivir Rises!”
Pandemic Pondering 