As World Waits For A Wonderdrug For Coronavirus, Here Are Some Existing Medicines That Are Used

The scientific community across the world is in a mad rush to find a vaccine or drug that can be used for coronavirus treatment. While there are some successes already in the search for a vaccine, it is not expected to be made available in the market before 2021.

That will be too late for the ongoing outbreak and the hundreds testing positive every day across the world. But the good news is that there are already some success stories from around the world where existing medicines for other conditions have been proven effective to treat Covid-19.

REUTERS

In Rajasthan, three of the four patients in the state have now been declared coronavirus-free. They were treated with a combination of two anti-HIV drugs. Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said the patient's' condition improved after they were administered the anti-HIV drugs. "Their symptoms were flu-like so they were initially given anti-malaria and anti-swine flu drugs," he said.

"All this while, our doctors were in touch with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Drug Controller General of India. Since the structure of coronavirus is similar to that of HIV to some extent, so they tried a combination of the two anti-HIV drugs," he added.

REUTERS

"It appears it (the combination of drugs) is working because three patients have recovered. Good thing is that all three patients are elderly and the successful result of the drug on patients of such age is a big thing," he said.

The same has been tested and proven effective in several cases across the world.

Doctors in China have used an anti-inflammatory drug to curb the effects of the coronavirus on critical patients. One of them is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, as well as certain types of juvenile arthritis. The drug has now been approved for use in China.

REUTERS

Remdesivir is a broad spectrum anti-viral medication developed by Gilead Sciences as a treatment for Ebola and also showed success in the treatment of monkeys infected with MERs, a different type of coronavirus. It is now being tested as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

Favipiravir, also known as Avigan, was approved for use in Japan in 2014 and is active against a range of illnesses, including influenza strains, yellow fever, Ebola and foot-and-mouth disease.

AFP

Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla is already in the process of developing a drug based on 3 compounds ¡ª Favipiravir, Remiesivir and Bolaxivir. Clinical trials have been done on Favipiravir and Remiesivir. It would around 6-10 weeks to make them.