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FRIDAY, May 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) – A triple whammy of three antiviral drugs holds promise in fighting mild to moderate COVID-19, a new study suggests.
Two weeks of interferon beta-1b, lopinavir-ritonavir and ribavirin, along with standard care, were tested in 127 adult patients in six Hong Kong hospitals.
Triple antiviral treatment was started within seven days after patients showed symptoms of COVID-19 and was found to be safe and shorten the duration of virus clearance compared to lopinavir-ritonavir alone (average 7 days versus 12 days).
The phase 2 study in the May 8 issue of The lancet The journal did not include patients with serious illness, and the researchers emphasized that larger phase 3 studies in critically ill patients are needed to determine whether triple therapy can provide clinically significant benefits.
“Our trial demonstrates that early treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 with a triple combination of antiviral drugs can rapidly suppress the amount of virus in a patient’s body, alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk to healthcare workers by reduce the duration and amount of viral shedding [when the virus is detectable and potentially transmissible]”said study leader Dr. Kwok-Yung Yuen of the University of Hong Kong.
“Furthermore, the treatment combination seemed safe and well tolerated by patients,” he added in a journal news release.
“Despite these encouraging findings, we must confirm in larger phase 3 trials that interferon beta-1b alone or in combination with other medications is effective in patients with more serious illnesses,” Yuen said.
Another expert agreed that the antiviral combo needs more testing.
“Since some of these agents have proven antiviral properties, it makes sense to test them,” said Dr. Matthew Heinz, a Tucson Medical Center hospitalist who also assisted in the American response to the Ebola crisis during the Obama administration.
“Lopinavir-ritonavir is an antiretroviral medication that is used to treat HIV, and ribavirin is used to treat hepatitis C. Interferon beta-1b occurs naturally in humans when it responds to viral infections such as influenza and is used commonly to treat multiple sclerosis. ” he said.
But “this study excluded critically ill and critically ill patients,” added Heinz. “Therefore, we have no idea if the sickest COVID-19 patients would benefit from combination therapy.”
Still, the author of an accompanying comment said the trial is a step forward in seeking COVID-19 treatment.
“Most of the studies published so far have been retrospective or observational. Therefore, this prospective, randomized, and controlled design adds significant value to the growing evidence about treatments, removing a number of limitations inherent in retrospective studies.” said Dr. Sarah Shalhoub of Western University. in Canada.
“This study presents a step toward finding a much-needed therapy for SARS-CoV-2. However, as the authors acknowledge, future studies to examine the efficacy of interferon beta-1b alone or in combination with other medications for severe or critical treatment sick patients with confirmed COVID-19 compared to placebo are warranted, “he wrote.
More information
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. USA They have more information on COVID-19.
SOURCES: Matthew Heinz, M.D., hospitalist, Tucson Medical Center, Arizona; The lancet, press release, May 8, 2020
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