At the point of writing the COVID-19 pandemic is nearing its two-year run with more than four million deaths and a total of 219 million cases worldwide. Scientists across the world are still scrambling to better understand this virus that struck the world in the beginning of the year 2020. Vaccination against COVID-19 has been the focus of many governments since the approval and manufacture of new COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021. Treatments however are still being worked on and developed to finetune the right cocktail of medications to treat patients with COVID-19. Given the range of symptoms, the patient’s age, as well as underlying health condition, COVID-19 patients can experience different severities of symptoms. Most COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms are able to recover at home without having to be admitted to the hospital. For such patients it is usually recommended for them to be quarantined for 14 days depending on the measures set by the government. To help ease the symptoms of COVID-19 patients should try to get enough rest, stay well hydrated, and take medications to relieve fever, aches, and pains as prescribed by a medical doctor.
Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) close to 80% of COVID-19 patients usually recover from the disease without the need for hospital treatment. Unfortunately for the remaining 20% it is a different story. Out of those with COVID-19 15% become seriously ill and would require respiratory support from oxygen tanks. The remaining 5% who are critically ill will need intensive care. Those who are of higher risk of severe disease require more advanced respiratory support such as ventilation. Currently treatment of COVID-19 has been to counter the symptoms or to help reduce the severity of the symptoms. But there is light at the end of the tunnel as the research and development of a COVID-19 treatment is underway and some promising results from various trials have shown that a treatment is not far behind. The following will discuss the treatments that have been studied to curb the progression of COVID-19 in people. And if you want to know more about COVID-19 and other pharma information, Pharmasource would be your best choice.
Molnupiravir
Early October 2021, MSD also known as Merck in the United States (U.S.) and Canada together with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced promising interim results from its Phase 3 trial for molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral medicine. From the analysis it was found that administering molnupiravir to patients significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization or death.
“With these compelling results, we are optimistic that molnupiravir can become an important medicine as part of the global efforts to fight the pandemic and will add to MSD’s unique legacy of bringing forward breakthroughs in infectious diseases when they are needed most. Consistent with MSD’s unwavering commitment to save and improve lives, we will continue to work with regulatory agencies on our applications and do everything we can to bring molnupiravir to patients as quickly as possible,” said Robert M. Davis, chief executive officer and president, MSD.
After the release of the interim analysis of the Phase 3 trial, MSD announced on October 11, 2021 that it has submitted an application for Emergency Use Authorization (EUS) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. Agreements have also been drawn between countries such as Singapore and the U.S. for the supply of molnupiravir if it is authorized or approved for use.
Dexamethasone
Traditionally used to treat a wide range of conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressant effects, dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that was found to benefit critically ill COVID-19 patients. Dexamethasone was tested in the United Kingdom’s national clinical trial called RECOVERY. Results from the trial demonstrated a lower mortality among the patients who were administered dexamethasone.
According to the WHO, COVID-19 patients who need oxygen ventilators showed reduced mortality by about one third after treatment with dexamethasone. For patients who only require oxygen support the mortality was reduced by one fifth. Based on the WHO recommendations such cor...
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