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Inhalers are being added to a key trial in the search for a steroid drug that prevents mild cases of covid-19 in vulnerable people at the point of hospitalization.
The drug, called budesonide, is the fourth therapeutic demonstration in the principle trial. Two antibiotics called azithromycin and doxycycline are also being investigated.
Hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug disputed by Donald Trump, was originally part of the doctrine but was suspended in May.
There are no known side effects associated with the short-term use of budesonide, its production is simple and inexpensive, making it an ideal candidate, the researchers say.
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Contributed by Daily Mail
Inhalers are being added to a key trial in the search for a steroid drug that prevents mild cases of covid-19 in vulnerable people at the point of hospitalization. The drug, called budesonide, is the fourth therapeutic demonstration in a theory trial.
The primary goal of the theory is that therapies that can be taken in the early days of a coronavirus infection and stopping it in its tracks can prevent severe symptoms.
It is run by Oxford University and is provided by the UK Government through the UKRI and the Department of Health and Social Care.
Researchers currently have over 2,000,000 volunteers for the study and are actively seeking more to participate.
Only people who have Covid-19 symptoms (fever, cough, or odor loss) and have specific health conditions, or are over 65 years of age, or can participate in this study.
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Existing health conditions to qualify children aged 30 to 64 are: serious illness or medication (eg chemotherapy), heart disease or high blood pressure, weakened immune system due to asthma or lung disease, diabetes, liver disease, stroke or Neurological problem, BMI of 35 or higher.
Each participant receives one or only regular care standard-control group of medications.
Patients assigned randomly to the budesonide group will be sent an inhaler and puff twice a day, providing a dose of 400 micrograms after each run.
“Budesonide is a relatively inexpensive, safe, and easy-to-administer drug for respiratory conditions that may play a role in treating covid-19,” said Chris Butler, a leading professor of theory testing.
‘Only by enrolling volunteers on a randomized controlled trial like the theory can we assess whether there are obvious advantages or disadvantages associated with potential treatment such as budesonide.
‘We need a lot more volunteers to join the trial so we can get the answers really needed to keep people with covid-19 out of the hospital.
‘Like vaccines and preventive measures, therapy plays an important role in reducing the burden of the disease in society.’
Experts hope that budesonide may be successful because other similar drugs, known as corticosteroids, reduce the number of ACE2 receptors on the surface of cells in the human airway.
ACE2 receptors are a viable way to block viral entry in the same way that coronaviruses infect human cells and reduce the amount of receptors.
Professor Richard Hobbs, co-leader of the theory, said: ‘We are constantly evaluating the various treatments that can help people with covid-19 to recover at home without having to go to the hospital.
‘We know from hospital hospital-based tests such as recovery that intravenous corticosteroid treatment with dexamethasone, which patients are already hospitalized, can reduce mortality.
‘If we think budesonide is an effective way to treat Covid-19 illness and prevent hospitalization, it will quickly be rolled out to the UK following regulatory approval.’
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