Roche’s Actemra (tocilizumab), an anti-inflammation drug used to treat arthritis, has demonstrated a key efficacy endpoint in critically ill Covid-19 patients, according to a 303-patient study. The early REMAP-CAP trial data confirmed the repurpose of the drug to treat coronavirus patients, although the study did not confirm if the drug was effective in keeping patients alive or shortened the need for ventilation and intensive care.
A World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline Development Group (GDG) panel of experts have ruled out the possibility of antiviral drug Remdesivir as an effective Covid-19 treatment for hospitalised patients. The organisation confirmed that new evidence suggested that it was inadequate in improving survival outcomes or reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
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The Icahn School of Medicine and Boehringer Ingelheim have announced a collaboration to evaluate the effect of nintedanib in adult patients suffering from acute lung injury after Covid-19 infection. The ENDCOV-I study is being conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine and has enrolled its first patient into the study.
A team of researchers from the University of Birmingham have developed a nasal spray using compounds already approved in the UK, US and Europe as an effective protection against the Covid-19 virus. The materials are already being used in medicines, food products and medical devices. This increases the likelihood of the spray to be more quickly available in markets for use.
