Science remains equivocal about whether remdesivir actually works for covid-19 sufferers
AN EFFECTIVE DRUG to treat covid-19 would transform the battle against the pandemic. Without one, whole countries have had to lock themselves down to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus which has infected more than 2m people and killed nearly 150,000, according to official records; the real toll is probably much greater.
This hope has energised the hunt for a drug against covid-19 since the early days of the pandemic. President Donald Trump, for one, has touted hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug. But it is remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug, that is proving the most exciting. The share price of its maker, Gilead Sciences, shot up by 12% on April 17th after a leak in STAT, an online medical publication, of a discussion suggesting impressive results of a trial with the drug.
Yet science remains equivocal about whether this drug actually works for covid-19 sufferers. Two trials in China have already failed, because of lack of enrolment. The recent publication in the, of a study of remdesivir given to 53 severely afflicted patients, reported that 68% of them improved. However the study has proven divisive among scientists. To begin with, errors can be large given the small number of patients.
Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warns that medicine is littered with instances where treatments were incorrectly believed to have strong benefits based on non-randomised data. Luckily, there are some gold-standard trials under way. One global effort, under the auspices of the World Health Organisation, began in mid-March but results are not expected until after June.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
The Market Is Overreacting to Gilead’s Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir, Analysts SayThe major U.S. stock indexes took off in response to a report about the drug on Thursday evening.
Consulte Mais informação »
Gilead Stock Jumps 8% After Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir Shows ‘Rapid Recoveries’ In Clinical TrialsShares of biotech company Gilead Sciences, which has been at the forefront of developing a treatment for COVID-19 patients, surged today after a report that a clinical trial for its antiviral drug, Remdesivir, was showing successful results by skleb1234
Consulte Mais informação »
More Encouraging Signs for Remdesivir as COVID-19 TreatmentThe early (yet-to-be-published) results of a University of Chicago study of remdesivir to treat coronavirus are promising.
Consulte Mais informação »
A treatment for the coronavirus would be priceless — and worth about 5,000 points in the Dow Jones Industrial Average'The stock market bulls’ declaration of victory on anecdotal data about Gilead’s remdesivir treatment is premature,' says TheAroraReport. But 'the stock market’s reaction shows that a 5,000 Dow point rally is highly probable if a true cure is found.'
Consulte Mais informação »
GPs to trial Covid drugs to stop severe symptomsTrials of drugs which could prevent vulnerable groups developing severe coronavirus symptoms begin.
Consulte Mais informação »
Women Detained On Rikers Are Scared For Their LivesHuffPost spoke to three women with serious health problems who fear the coronavirus could kill them.
Consulte Mais informação »