The epidemic situation overseas is gradually increasing, and domestic imported cases have also been strictly controlled. According to the latest data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 24th, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside China reached 291010, and the first case was reported the day before in Myanmar, Belize, Dominica, Turks and Caicos Islands. Confirmed cases. With the progress of anti-epidemic, “new use of old drugs” has become the mainstream approach to the development of COVID-19 drugs, and recent news of many old drugs has attracted attention.
“Old medicine new”, they are disappointing
The National Health Commission for the first time included celebrium in the COVID-19 treatment guidelines in late January, and added chloroquine and abidol in the February 19 update, but these three drugs are targeted for mild The clinical trials of COVID-19 patients have been disappointing.
On March 23, according to media reports, due to the pandemic of COVID-19 (COVID-19), fewer and fewer drugs are available, AbbVie decided to abandon the HIV combination drug Kaletra (Lopinavir / (ritonavir) to face a shortage of drug supplies that could threaten the world. On the same day, a medical preprint platform MedRxiv published a study online (without peer review). The doctors of Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University based on the results of randomized controlled trials of 44 patients. Arbidol has had little effect on virus clearance or symptom relief in patients with moderate to mild COVID-19, and even Kelizhi treatment may cause adverse reactions in more patients. The results of the LPV / r clinical trial in 199 patients with severe COVID-19 in Wuhan were also the same.
After the outbreak in the United States, Trump Amway’s “specific medicine” chloroquine did not perform well. Three people in Lagos State, Nigeria, were reportedly taken to Lagos City Hospital for treatment after taking chloroquine.
New arthritis drugs
The National Health Commission added Actemra (Tomuzumab) to the COVID-19 treatment guidelines updated in early March. On March 19th, Roche announced a collaboration with the FDA to launch a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia in hospitalized adults compared with placebo plus standard treatment. Patient safety and effectiveness.
On March 24th local time, Roche said that the company is urgently working to speed up production capacity to maximize the output of Yarrow and ensure that global supply can be met at any time.
Kevzara (sarilumab), another rheumatoid arthritis drug, announced on March 17 that Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have launched a phase II / III clinical trial to evaluate The efficacy of its rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara in the treatment of severely ill patients with COVID-19. The trial began at the New York Medical Center, covering 16 clinical trial centers across the United States. Later, Regeneron was responsible for clinical trials in the United States, and Sanofi led global trials outside the United States.
It remains to be seen how these arthritis drugs will behave at COVID-19.
US version of “Double Coptis”
Shortly after the outbreak of the domestic epidemic, a message detonated WeChat, Weibo, circle of friends, and family groups, that is, “Shanghai Academy of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wuhan Institute of Virology jointly found: Shuanghuanglian can inhibit new coronavirus!”. As soon as this news appeared, Shuanghuanglian immediately made it to the altar. Long queues lined up at the entrances of pharmacies all over the night, and Shuanghuanglian in online pharmacies were sold out, and even Shuanghuanglian for veterinary use was bought off the shelf.
In the United States, there has also been a snatch of drugs. This drug is Trump Amway’s “specific drug” chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Although the FDA rejected Trump’s statement and said that chloroquine has not been approved for the treatment of coronavirus, Its effectiveness and safety must be tested, but it has not affected the enthusiasm for chloroquine in the United States.
One of the domestic broad-spectrum antiviral drugs of Shuanghuanglian oral solution has not affected the needs of special patients. Chloroquine in the United States is a drug used to treat malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The snap-up of the American population has led to a shortage of this drug, which has put patients with immune system diseases who need it for a long time.
It has been reported that Sharon Cross, a lupus patient in Sharon Cross, Arizona, has been taking hydroxychloroquine for many years, but she can’t find medicine everywhere now; chloroquine is a medicine used to treat diseases, but it is also an aquarium Aquarium additives are often used to clean fish tanks. Another local man took a fish tank cleaning additive with the same active ingredients as chloroquine to prevent COVID-19 infection, and died unfortunately.
Recently, the WHO announced a large-scale global trial called SOLIDARITY, involving thousands of patients in dozens of countries to participate in the development of specific medicines, thereby rapidly collecting powerful scientific data during the pandemic. Drug development provides the basis. We also hope to find a specific cure for COVID-19 as soon as possible to control the epidemic.