Remdesivir didn’t cut mortality in Covid patients: WHO

TIL Desk/World/New Delhi/ The interim results of the World Health Organisation Solidarity Trial’ indicate that four repurposed drugs for COVID-19 — remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens — appeared to have little or no effect on reducing mortality, initiation of ventilation and duration of hospital stay.

The interim findings of the trial in which the four drugs were tested in 405 hospitals across 30 countries, covering 11,266 adults, were released on ‘medRxiv’, a preprint server, on Thursday. The findings are under review for publication in a medical journal.

“In 405 hospitals across 30 countries, 11,266 adults were randomised, with 2,750 of them given remdesivir, 954 hydroxychloroquine, 1,411 lopinavir, 651 interferon plus lopinavir, 1,412 only interferon, and 4,088 no study drug,” the uploaded trial study stated. The trial arms related to hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir were discontinued earlier as the interim results had showed no benefit.