WHO-led trial to study three anti-inflammatory drugs for COVID-19 patients (updated)

Ipca Laboratories

11/08/2021 13:18

(Adds details and background)
    ZURICH, Aug 11 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization
(WHO) said on Wednesday a clinical trial in 52 countries would
study three anti-inflammatory drugs as potential treatments for
COVID-19 patients.
    "These therapies - artesunate, imatinib and infliximab –
were selected by an independent expert panel for their potential
in reducing the risk of death in hospitalised COVID-19
patients," it said in a statement on the Solidarity PLUS trial.
    Artesunate is already used for severe malaria, imatinib for
certain cancers, and infliximab for diseases of the immune
system such as Crohn's Disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
    The original Solidarity trial last year found that all four
treatments evaluated - remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine,
lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon - had little or no effect in
helping COVID patients.
    So far, only corticosteroids have been proven effective
against severe and critical COVID-19.
    The WHO said artesunate, produced by Ipca  IPCA.NS , is used
to treat malaria. In the trial, it will be administered
intravenously for seven days, using the standard dose
recommended for the treatment of severe malaria.
    Imatinib, produced by Novartis  NOVN.S , is used to treat
certain cancers. In the trial, it will be administered orally,
once daily, for 14 days. 
    Infliximab, produced by Johnson and Johnson  JNJ.N , is used
to treat diseases of the immune system. In the trial, it will be
administered intravenously as a single dose. 

 (Reporting by Michael Shields  Editing by Jason Neely and Mark
Potter)
 ((Michael.Shields@thomsonreuters.com; +41 41 528 3630; Reuters
Messaging: michael.shields.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))