Coronavirus cure: From leprosy drug to HIV drug - 4 minutes read
Even as scientists race against time to find a proper cure or vaccine to fight COVID-19, doctors around the world are trying different therapies and even re-purposing old drugs to combat the viral spread. The most recent one, which involves experimenting with a popular leprosy drug has shown immense potential. We tell you about a few other experimental therapies which are going on right now:
1. Leprosy drug sepsivac
An Indian pharmaceutical giant joined the fight against coronavirus by testing a leprosy drug on COVID-positive patients in Chandigarh. The drug contains an important immunomodulator, which according to the Indian Council of Medical Research's findings can help treat and even reduce the mortality rate in critically ill patients and has been repurposed for use against COVID-19. If found to be successful, trials will be started at a widescale to support COVID treatment.
2. HCQ
HCQ or Hydrochloroquine has been one of the controversial drugs in the news of late. The anti-malaria drug also used to treat certain auto-immune and arthritis conditions has shown immense promise in treating some of the symptoms associated with coronavirus. Even though studies are still underway, warnings have been issued against widescale use of the HCQ drugs and in some places, has been reserved for use only in hospital settings and to be administered to frontline workers.
There is also another hindrance against widescale usage of Hydroxychloroquine. Patients who usually take these medications to manage their health are finding it difficult to get the drugs and needed treatment.
3. HIV drugs
Of all the experimental studies and trials, a combination of antiviral medicines used in the treatment of severe flu and infections are currently showing the highest potential of all the drugs and were first used in Thailand, back in February. In India too, the cocktail medicines were used in Kerala, which has seen a sizeable lowering down of infections.
HIV medicines work as combination therapy, which in the past, has been used to treat certain regressive forms of cancer and many severe forms of chronic illnesses. The drugs which are being used to treat novel coronavirus on a few patients are lopinavir, ritonavir, which act from the root and strip the virus's ability to attack or reproduce the body's immune system, hence, curbing the problem of further infection as well.
4. Favilavir
Extensive trials propagating the use of Favipiravir have been going on in Japan and another trial is set to begin in India. Researchers say that Favipiravir works by preventing the virus from replicating inside the organs and was also used in fighting the deadly Influenza virus in the past.
5. Remesdivir
Remdesivir is one of the drugs in the lead fight against Coronavirus. After long extensive trials, the makers have now got the go-ahead from the FDA for the usage of the drug in coronavirus treatment. Doctors say that remdesivir, if used correctly can help lower the recovery period from 15 days to just 4 short days. It is an antiviral drug which works by copying the coronavirus's genetic make-up, the RNA and slows down replication. Lab trials have shown that the drug has also been helpful in the fight against Ebola in the past, which belongs to the same family of viruses like the Coronavirus.
6. Plasma therapy
There' s a lot of hope sailing on the effectiveness of this therapy and trials are underway in several Delhi hospitals as well. Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT) involves the process of transfusing healthy antibodies from a recovered COVID patient to a sick person, thereby, strengthening their immunity in fight against coronavirus. Very few side-effects have been reported so far but more medical research is needed before the therapy gets vetoed as a proper treatment plan.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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