WHO announces three new drugs for latest COVID-19 ‘Solidarity’ clinical trials
The therapies — artesunate, imatinib and infliximab — will be tested on hospitalized COVID-19 patients in 52 countries under the Solidarity PLUS programme.
There have been more than 203 million cases of the disease recorded globally as of Wednesday, according to WHO data. The world hit the 200-million mark last week, just six months after cases passed 100 million.
More therapeutics needed
Speaking during a press conference in Geneva, agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underscored the critical need to find more effective and accessible COVID-19 therapeutics.
“We already have many tools to prevent, test for and treat COVID-19, including oxygen, dexamethasone and IL-6 blockers. But we need more, for patients at all ends of the clinical spectrum, from mild to severe disease. And we need health workers that are trained to use them in a safe environment,” he said.
The three drugs were selected by an independent panel for their potential in reducing the risk of death in people hospitalized for COVID-19.
They are already being used to treat other conditions.
Artesunate is a medicine for severe malaria, imatinib is used for certain cancers, including leukemia, while infliximab is used to treat Crohn’s Disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases of the immune system.
Manufacturers Ipca, Novartis and Johnson & Johnson, donated the drugs for the trial.
Collaboration yields results
Solidarity PLUS is the largest global collaboration among WHO’s 194 Member States, with thousands of researchers in over 600 hospitals participating.
Finland is among the 52 countries taking part, 16 more than the initial Solidarity Trial, and contributes to the COVAX vaccine solidarity initiative. Two university hospitals there have been the first worldwide to begin the second phase.
Hanna Sarkkinen, the country’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, said clinical trials have a great potential to save lives.
“Even though there are approximately 3,000 clinical studies on COVID-19, most of them are too small to yield significant information. We need clinical trials that are large enough to bring better treatments for COVID-19 patients,” she said.
Four drugs were evaluated under the initial Solidarity Trial last year, which showed that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon had little or no effect on hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Final results are expected next month.
© UN News (2021) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: UN News
Where next?
Browse related news topics:
Read the latest news stories:
- TikTok and WHO Join Efforts to Combat Misinformation Monday, September 30, 2024
- It’s Time for Rich Polluters to Pay for the Climate Crisis They Created Monday, September 30, 2024
- Terrorists and their foreign sponsors, though ‘weakened’ still pose a threat, Mali minister warns Saturday, September 28, 2024
- Saudi Arabia promotes ‘appeasement and development’ in the Middle East and beyond Saturday, September 28, 2024
- As challenges mount across the globe, ‘the world needs the UN’, Egypt says Saturday, September 28, 2024
- Indian minister says ‘we can change the world for the better’ Saturday, September 28, 2024
- Violations of UN Charter and international law now ‘facts of life’, Cuban Foreign Minister says Saturday, September 28, 2024
- Attempt to defeat Russia a ‘suicidal escapade’, Lavrov warns Ukraine and the West Saturday, September 28, 2024
- China is committed to dialogue, ‘not throwing gas on the fire’, Foreign Minister Wang says Saturday, September 28, 2024
- Lebanon crisis: Guterres urges parties to ‘step back from the brink’ Saturday, September 28, 2024
Learn more about the related issues: