Research on therapeutics is accelerating as cases of COVID-19 surge across the United States.
Studies of remdesivir — the most promising drug shown to treat COVID-19 so far — will soon enter a new phase of research, even before analysis is completed on the current phase of study.
It did not appear to lower deaths from COVID-19, though. It is clear that remdesivir will not be enough on its own — any comprehensive treatment for the coronavirus will require a cocktail of medicines. Kalil, who is also an infectious disease expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, declined to disclose the name of the drug before the study launches. However, Gilead Sciences, the maker of remdesivir, previously said it will be tested in combination with another rheumatoid arthritis drug called tocilizumab, sold as Actemra.
That included as many as 1,000 COVID-19 patients in a single day this past week, said Dr. Arturo Casadevall, chair of Johns Hopkins' department of molecular microbiology and immunology. He also serves as the lead investigator for two studies on convalescent plasma at Johns Hopkins.That research so far, he said, has shown convalescent plasma to be safe. Doctors have reported anecdotal success, but clinical trials to determine whether convalescent plasma is indeed effective are ongoing.
"BARDA is involved in discussions with American Red Cross and America's Blood Centers about the possibility of ramping up collection of COVID-19 convalescent plasma," a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson wrote in an email.
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