IBPS and SBLehrer LLC are releasing the next update of clinical efforts for treatments and vaccines for Covid19. As we stated when we started this effort, Our goal is to highlight the actual work and results from studies around the world to aid in decision making, not follow the 24 hour news cycle hype.
Of the +1500 trials registered on various clinical websites we are currently tracking the progress on the following
– Prophylaxis treatment of Covid19 for at risk Population like Medical staff
– Treatment options for Infected Patients
– Vaccines for Healthy People
Several major development occurred since our last update.
- Hydroxychloroquine: Initial reports from France and the US show hydroxychloroquine in combination with Azithromycin showed promise. Governments around the world are stockpiling the drug. US FDA authorized use for patients who were not enrolled in clinical trials. Trials in Brazil and the US with hydroxychloroquine were recently stopped due to significant cardiac side effects, a known side effect of the drug. FDA on April 24th, advised doctors against prescribing hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine to coronavirus patients outside of the hospital setting as it appears to be causing some serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. A small trial of 30 subjects has demonstrated despite its small sample size that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin. Another small study in Chins is also exhibiting positive preliminary outcomes
- Remdesivir: Similar to Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir has had its own roller coaster in the last 2 weeks. Worldwide equity markets rose more than 10% after initial promising compassionate use results on ~120 patients were released. New data issued by WHO from a Chinese study which had to stop recruiting after the drug failed to show any effect caused major headlines around the world. Meanwhile Gilead has further increased its enrollment numbers for 2 trials which are currently ongoing and expected to end in May-2020.
- Stem cells are showing positive signs. Two small studies showed very high recovery rates with severe patients
- In the Vaccine world which is currently the most promising of all alternatives under development, WHO currently tracked 71 vaccines in development across the globe of which 8 have moved into clinical phase
We look to update this summary in the next two weeks. As before, please help us by adding any information you see missing from the summary.
Thanks for your help in this journey