- Scientists around the world have developed treatments and vaccines for the new coronavirus disease known asCOVID-19.
- Several companies are working on antiviral drugs, some of which are already in use against other illnesses, to treat people who have COVID-19.
- 目前,三种疫苗作为preventive measure against the disease are being distributed in the United States.
With confirmedCOVID-19cases in the United States surpassing30 millionand continuing to grow, scientists have spent the past year developing vaccines and treatments to slow the pandemic and lessen the disease’s damage.
On Oct. 22, the
The agency has also issued
An EUA allows doctors to use these drugs to treat people even before the medications have gone through the formal FDA approval process.
当我们等待额外的治疗和分配ibution of already approved vaccines, there are still
“Even though technological advances allow us to do certain things more quickly, we still have to rely on social distancing, contact tracing, self-isolation, and other measures,”Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, told Healthline.
Vaccines are designed to protect people before they’re exposed to a virus — in this case SARS-CoV-2.
A vaccine basically
Vaccines also protect the community by reducing the spread of disease among people. This protection is known asherd, or community, immunity.
Here’s a look at some of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine projects:
Moderna / National Institutes of Health.The company began testing its two-dose messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine in March 2020 in aphase 1 clinical trial, withpromising results.
In late July, Moderna beganphase 3 clinical trialsof the vaccine.
In late August, company officialssaidpreliminary phase 1 trial data showed that the vaccine elicited a promising immune response in 10 people between the ages of 56 and 70 as well as 10 people over age of 70.
The companyannouncedin late October that it had finished recruiting all 30,000 participants in the phase 3 trial. This included more than 7,000 people over the age of 65 and more than 5,000 younger people with chronic conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19.
In early October, company officialsannouncedtheir vaccine won’t be available for wide distribution until spring 2021. Later in the month, Moderna’s CEOtold investorsthat the trial’s data and safety monitoring board could start analyzing study data in November.
In mid-November, Moderna officialsreportedthat their vaccine had achieved an effective rate of 94 percent in initial phase 3 trial results. Experts said more testing and more information is needed.
On November 30, Moderna officialssaidthey would apply to the FDA for its vaccine to be approved for emergency use.
On December 18, the FDA
In May 2021, company officialsannouncedtheir vaccine was shown to be effective in clinical trials against COVID-19 in children 12 to 17 years old.
In early June, Moderna officialsaskedthe FDA to grant them emergency use authorization to administer their vaccine to children from 12 to 17 years old.
In September, Moderna officialssaidthey are developing a combination booster shot for both COVID-19 and the flu. The single shot has yet to go through a clinical trial.
In late September, the company also releasedresultsof a phase 3 clinical trial that showed its COVID-19 did not lose any of its effectiveness 5 months after a second dose had been administered.
In late October, company officialsreportedthat their COVID-19 vaccine was safe and effective for children from 5 years to 11 years old.
In mid-November, the FDAgrantedemergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine to be used as a booster for people 18 years and older.
Pfizer / BioNTech / Fosun Pharma.Drugmaker Pfizer teamed up German biotech company BioNTech and Chinese drugmaker Fosun Pharma to develop a two-dose mRNA vaccine.
In August 2020, company officialssaidthe vaccine had produced a “robust” response in a phase 1/2 clinical trial.
The companylauncheda phase 3 trial in late July, with a goal to recruit 30,000 people from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Germany. They laterannouncedplans to increase this to 44,000 people. In October, the company said it receivedapprovalto enroll children as young as 12 years in the trial — the first American trial to include this age group.
As of late October, the trial hadenrolledmore than 42,000 people. At the time, the company had not yetconductedan interim analysis of the study data, which puts it behind its original goal of doing so by September. However, the company stillexpectsto have enough data sometime in November to apply for emergency use authorization from the FDA.
On November 9, the companyannouncedthat its vaccine had been more than 90 percent effective in clinical trial participants.
A few days later, company officialsannouncedthey were applying for an emergency use authorization from the FDA for their vaccine. It was the first regulatory approval in the United States for a COVID-19 vaccine. The officials said the vaccine could be available to high-risk groups as early as mid-December.
On December 8, the FDAreleaseddocuments that reported the Pfizer vaccine offers some protection after the first dose and nearly full protection after a second dose.
On December 11, the FDA
In January 2021, company officials said astudyindicated their vaccine is only slightly less effective against the COVID-19 variant from South Africa.
In mid-February, astudyfrom Israel reported a 94 percent decrease in symptomatic COVID-19 cases among people who received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. That
In mid-February, Pfizer officialsannouncedthat they believe their vaccine can be stored at regular freezer temperatures.
In late February, astudy来自英国报道,一个dose of the Pfizer vaccine can reduce the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus by 70 percent with an 85 percent reduction after two doses.
In early March, astudyout of Israel reported that the Pfizer vaccine was highly effective in preventing COVID-19 in people with a variety of conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
In mid-March, company officialsreleasedfrom clinical data from Israel, reporting their vaccine was 97 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease from COVID-19.
In mid-May, the FDAgrantedemergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to children 12 years to 15 years old.
In early June, Pfizer officialsannouncedthey will begin testing their vaccine on children younger than 12. In late October, theysaidthe trial had shown their vaccine was safe and effective for children 5 years to 11 years old.
Inovio.When COVID-19 appeared in December, drugmaker Inovio had already been working on aDNA vaccine for MERS, which is caused by another coronavirus. This allowed the company to quickly develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine.
Company officials announced at the end of April that it had enrolled40 healthy volunteersin its phase 1 trial. In late September, the company announced that its phase 2/3 trial is on hold as the itrespondsto the FDA’s questions about the study.
In early August, company officialsannouncedtheir vaccine has to be shown to be 93 percent effective after 6 months. However, they said they believe a third dose of booster vaccine will be needed in the near future.
In mid-August, Pfizer and BioNTech officialssubmittedtheir early clinical trial data to the FDA as part of their application to receive approval for a COVID-19 booster shot.
On September 20, company officialsreportedthe first trial of their COVID-19 vaccine on children ages 5 to 11 showed the vaccine was safe, well tolerated, and produced a robust antibody response. The companies plan to apply for an emergency use authorization from the FDA.
In mid-November, the FDAgrantedemergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to be used as a booster for people 18 years and older.
Sanofi / Translate Bio.Drugmaker Sanofi announced in February that it would work with Translate Bio todevelopan mRNA vaccine. Preclinical testingshowedthat the vaccine could elicit a strong immune response in mice and monkeys. The companyexpectsresults from its phase 2 trial in early December. After that, they will start a phase 3 study.
CanSino Biologics.Scientists at this Chinese company are also working on a potential vaccine that uses an adenovirus known as Ad5 to carry coronavirus proteins into cells.
In late July, theyreportedthat participants in a phase 2 trial showed a strong immune response when given the vaccine. However, they noted older adults had a weaker response, suggesting two doses might be needed for that segment of the population.
The Chinese militaryapprovedthe vaccine in June, allowing the vaccine to be given to its armed forces. In August, the company began phase 3 trials inPakistan,Saudi Arabia, andRussia.
Gamaleya Research Institute.This Russian institute
In August, President Vladimir Putinannouncedthat the country’s regulatory agency had approved the vaccine, even before phase 3 trials had started. Russian officials later said the vaccine hadreceiveda “conditional registration certificate.”
Results of aphase 1/2 trial发现that the vaccine elicited an immune response with mild side effects. Phase 3 trials are currently under way inRussia, Belarus, United Arab Emirates, andIndia.
Johnson & Johnson.Drugmaker Johnson & Johnsonannouncedin late July that it had begun a phase 1/2 trial in people after their adenovirus vaccine had shown promising results when used in monkeys.
In late September, the companyannouncedit was starting a phase 3 trial of its one-dose vaccine with 60,000 participants. In mid-October, the companyannouncedit was pausing this trial due to an “unexplained illness” with one of the participants. The company has since received permission torestartthe study.
In mid-November, Johnson & Johnson officialssaidthey expected their vaccine to be ready for FDA approval by February.
In mid-January, company officialsreportedthat in early clinical trials nearly all participants developed an immune response from the vaccine. In addition, the response lasted for at least 71 days.
In late January, company officialsannouncedthat their vaccine was 66 percent effective overall and more than 50 percent effective against the new variants.
In early February, Johnson & Johnsonrequestedan emergency use authorization for its vaccine. FDA regulators will examine the data in the ensuing weeks because this is the first of the one-dose vaccines. An FDA advisory panel is scheduled to consider the company’s request in late February.
In late February, company officialsannouncedthey will be able to deliver 20 million doses of their vaccine by the end of March.
In late February, the companyreceivedemergency use authorization from the FDA for its single-dose vaccine.
In early March, the White Houseannouncedthat Merck will help Johnson & Johnson manufacture its vaccine so the company can hit production targets.
In mid-September, company officialsannouncedthat a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine produced a strong immune response in participants in a clinical trial. The boosters were given 2 months to 6 months after the initial vaccine dose.
AstraZeneca / University of Oxford.A phase 1clinical trialat the University of Oxford began in late April. The vaccine is based on a chimpanzee adenovirus, which shuttles coronavirus proteins into cells.
In August, AstraZeneca began phase 3 trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the
In mid-November, company officialssaidtheir vaccine had produced a strong immune response in a clinical trial that involved people over the age of 70.
Data released on December 8indicatedthat the vaccine was safe but only about 70 percent effective.
In early February, company officialsannouncedthat phase 3 clinical trial results showed that their vaccine was 82 percent effective after 12 weeks. They added that the vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. They also noted that the vaccine achieved up to a 67 percent efficacy in preventing disease transmission.
A few days later, South Africa officialssuspended plansto inoculate their front-line healthcare workers because clinical trials indicated the AstraZeneca vaccine wasn’t effective in preventing mild to moderate illness with the COVID-19 variant now dominant in that country.
In mid-February, the World Health Organization
Sanofi / GSK / TranslateBio.Drugmaker Sanofi ispursuingtwo vaccines. The company is working with drugmaker GSK on a vaccine based on proteins from the coronavirus. When combined with another compound, called an adjuvant, the proteins elicit an immune response. Theyexpect从12月初2期试验结果,房颤ter which they will begin a phase 3 study.
Sanofi is also working with biotech company Translate Bio to develop an mRNA vaccine. They expect to start clinical trials in December.
Novavax.这个公司receivedup to $388 million in funding this spring from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a group that has funded COVID-19 vaccine development. The vaccine is made by attaching virus proteins to microscopic particles.
In August, Novavaxlauncheda phase 2 trial in South Africa. A month later, the companybegana phase 3 trial in the United Kingdom. Itplansto start another phase 3 trial in the United States by the end of November.
In late January, company officialsannouncedtheir vaccine was 90 percent effective overall and 60 percent effective against the South African variant.
University of Queensland in Australia / CSL.Researchers at the university developed a vaccine by growing viral proteins in cell cultures. They beganpreclinical testing stagesin early April. Thephase 1 trialin people began in early July. A phase 2/3 trial is expected to start late this year.
Wuhan Institute of Biological Products / Sinopharm.Chinese company Sinopharm is testing an inactivated virus vaccine developed by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products. After a successful
Beijing Institute of Biological Products / Sinopharm.Sinopharm is testing a second inactivated virus vaccine developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Products.
Phase 3 trials began in June in theUAEand in September inArgentina. In September, the UAEapprovedthe vaccine for use on healthcare workers even before the results of the phase 3 trials.
Sinovac Biotech.This Chinese company launched phase 3 trials of its inactivated virus vaccine inBrazilin July,Indonesiain August, andTurkeyin September. In August, the Chinese governmentissuedemergency approval for the vaccine for use on high-risk groups.
Bharat Biotech / Indian Council of Medical Research / Indian National Institute of Virology.Indian company Bharatannouncedin late October that it was beginning a phase 3 trial of its inactivated virus vaccine.
Murdoch Children’s Research Institutein Australia isconductinga phase 3 trial of the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccine to see if it also protects people from the coronavirus. This trial is beingrunin Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Some scientists think the
Two U.S. researchers also suggested that themeasles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccinemight offer protection against inflammation and sepsis in people with COVID-19. They recommend starting a clinical trial with the MMR vaccine in healthcare workers.
Antivirals are drugs that are used for treating viral infections. Some antivirals target specific viruses, while others work against a number of viruses.
These drugs can work in different ways such as preventing the virus from entering host cells, replicating, or releasing viral particles to infect other cells.
In June 2021, White House officialsannouncedthey will spend $3 billion this year on developing antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 symptoms. They said the new medications could be ready by the end of this year and could possibly be used to treat other pandemic viruses in the future.
Here are some of antivirals being eyed as treatments for COVID-19. Many of these have been approved for other conditions or have been tested on other viruses.
Remdesivir (brand name Veklury).Developed adecadeago, remdesivir failed in clinical trials against Ebola in 2014. But it was found to be generally safe in people.
Researchwith MERS, a disease caused by a different coronavirus, showed that the drug blocked the virus from replicating.
In April, drugmaker Gilead Sciencesannouncedthat preliminary data from a trial of remdesivir overseen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) had “met its primary endpoint.”
Based on these results, the FDA
In August, the agency
The results of a phase 3 trial published in October in theNew England Journal of Medicineshowed that remdesivir shortened the hospital stay of COVID-19 patients by about 5 days.
People taking remdesivir also had a lower risk of dying compared to those who had been given an inactive control substance.
On Oct. 22, the FDA
Not all clinical trials have found that remdesivir is effective.
A
Preliminary results from aWorld Health Organization trialreleased in October found that remdesivir had little effect on how long people stayed in the hospital and no effect on their risk of dying.
Remdesivir is also being tested in manyCOVID-19 clinical trials在世界各地,包括结合不her drugs such as
In mid-September, officials at Eli Lillyannouncedthat in early stage trials their anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib when added to remdesivir can shorten hospital stays by 1 day for people with COVID-19.
Olumiant, which is the name baricitinib is sold under, is already used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions that involve overactive immune systems.
The drug is also beingtested in childrenwith moderate to severe COVID-19.
In mid-November, FDA officials
In mid-July, astudyconcluded that remdesivir provided no clinical benefit to people hospitalized with COVID-19 and may have actually extended their stay in the hospital.
AT-527.This drug was developed by Boston biotech Atea Pharmaceuticals and is being developed in partnership with drugmaker Roche.
Atea began aphase 2 trialin May, testing the drug in people hospitalized with moderate COVID-19.
The companyplansto test the drug next year outside the hospital setting, and test to see if the drug can work in people recently exposed to the coronavirus.
EIDD-2801.This drug was created by scientists at a nonprofit biotech company owned by Emory University.
Research in mice has shown that it can
Pharmaceutical company Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP signed anagreementin May to develop this drug. Aphase 1 trialof this drug began in April in the United Kingdom, followed in July by aphase 2 trial.
Unlike remdesivir, EIDD-2801 can be taken orally, which would make it available to a larger number of people.
Favipiravir (brand name Avigan).This drug, which is manufactured by the Japanese company Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., is approved in some countries outside the United States to treat influenza.
Japan, where the medication is made, issending the drug to 43 countriesfor clinical trial testing in people with mild or moderate COVID-19.Canadian researchersare testing to see whether the drug can help fight outbreaks in long-term care homes.
In September, Fujifilm released the results of aphase 3 trialthat began in March. COVID-19 patients taking the drug improved after 12 days on average versus more than 14 days on average for people taking an inactive placebo.
The company isseekingapproval of the drug in Japan as a treatment for COVID-19.
Fluvoxamine.This drug is already used to treat people with obsessive/compulsive disorder. In mid-November 2020, a
In early February 2021, astudyindicated fluvoxamine could help prevent mild COVID-19 symptoms from becoming worse.
Astudyreleased in November 2021 reported that fluvoxamine reduced the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 in people with high risk by 32 percent.
Kaletra.This is a combination of two drugs — lopinavir and ritonavir — that work against HIV.
临床试验are being done to see whether this drug combo also works against SARS-CoV-2. There have been mixed results.
One small
Anotherstudy, published May 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the drug combination wasn’t effective for people with severe COVID-19.
But another
A U.K.
Merimepodib (VX-497).This drug, developed by ViralClear Pharmaceuticals Inc., has been previously shown to have antiviral and immune-suppressing effects. It was tested against hepatitis C but had only
The company isrunning a phase 2 trialof this drug. People with advanced COVID-19 will be randomized to receive either merimepodib with remdesivir, or remdesivir plus a placebo.
The companyendedits phase 2 trial in October after concerns about the drug’s safety.
Molnupiravir.The antiviral medication from Merck wasapprovedfor use by regulators in the United Kingdom in November 2021. It will be given to people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who have at least one risk factor for developing serious illness.
In early December 2021, an FDA advisory panel on a 13-10 voterecommendedapproval of molnupiravir as a treatment for people with symptomatic infection from the novel coronavirus. The close vote came after data showed only modest improvement in people with COVID-19 who took the drug.
Niclosamide.ANA Therapeutics began aphase 2 and 3 trialin October of oral niclosamide, a drug that’s been used for more than 50 years to treat tapeworms, to see whether it helps people with COVID-19. Earlier studies showed the drug had antiviral and immune-modulating activities.
Paxlovid. In November 2021, Pfizerreportedthat its antiviral drug reduced the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 by 89 percent. In the company’s study, Paxlovid was given to participants who were unvaccinated and at higher risk with COVID-19. The participants were experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of the disease. Pfizer is now seeking FDA approval to distribute the medication.
Umifenovir (brand name Arbidol).This antiviral was tested along with the drug lopinavir/ritonavir as a treatment for COVID-19.
Researchersreportedin mid-April that the three-drug combination didn’t improve the clinical outcomes for people hospitalized with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.
A July
Monoclonal antibodies trigger the immune system to attack a virus. Like antibodies made by the body’s immune system, these lab-made molecules target a specific invader, such as SARS-CoV-2.
AstraZenecareceivedfundingin October 2020 to begin phase 3 trials of its anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody combo drug AZD7442. One study will examine whether the drug can provide protection for up to 12 months.
The drug is made of two antibodies discovered byVanderbilt University Medical Center, isolated from the blood of a couple from Wuhan, China.
In October 2021, the companyaskedthe FDA for emergency authorization to use the drug after a clinical trial showed it was 77 percent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people who are at high risk of contracting the disease.
Celltrion.This South Korean company began aphase 3 trialin October of its monoclonal antibody treatment, CT-P59. It’s being tested in people who have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19 to see whether the drug can prevent infection.
Edesa Biotech Inc.received approval to begin aphase 2 trialof its monoclonal antibody drug, EB05. The company thinks its drug could reduce the overactive immune responses associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Eli Lilly.In early October, Eli Lillyreportedthat a new treatment involving two antibodies showed promising results in reducing SARS-CoV-2 levels. The treatment was given to people with COVID-19 who hadn’t been hospitalized.
The results were published in theNew England Journal of Medicine. People who received the antibodies had significantly reduced virus levels after 11 days. They also had slightly less severe symptoms compared to participants who received an inactive placebo.
In mid-October, the National Institutes of Healthpausedthe phase 3 trial of Eli Lilly’s antibody over potential safety concerns. The drug was being tested in combination with the antiviral remdesivir.
In mid-November, the Eli Lilly drug bamlanivimab
In mid-January, researchers
Also in mid-January, Eli Lilly officialsannouncedthat bamlanivimab significantly reduced the risk of contracting symptomatic COVID-19 among nursing home residents and employees. The phase 3 trial included 666 employees and 299 residents.
In early March, company officialsreportedthat a phase 3 clinical trial revealed a drug combination of bamlanivimab and etesivmibab produced an 87 percent lower risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.istesting a two-antibody combinationin four groups: people hospitalized with COVID-19; people with symptoms of the disease but not hospitalized; healthy people at high risk for getting sick with COVID-19; and healthy people who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
On Oct. 7, the companyaskedthe FDA for emergency approval of its antibody mixture, or “cocktail.” The announcement came a few days after President Trump was treated with the drug for COVID-19. Regeneron officials said doses for 50,000 people would initially be available.
In mid-October, the companyreported它的抗体在临床表现很好的混合cal trial involving hamster and rhesus macaque monkeys.
In late October, the companyannouncedit would stop recruiting participants who need high levels of supplemental oxygen into its phase 2 and 3 trial due to potential safety concerns. People who need low or no supplemental oxygen will continue to be enrolled.
In January 2021, company officialsannouncedthat its antibody cocktail appears to be effective against the United Kingdom and South African variants of the novel coronavirus.
In June 2021, a new studyrevealedthat the Regeneron antibody combination reduced the risk of death for people hospitalized with COVID-19 who don’t mount an immune defense on their own.
In July 2021, health experts said the Regeneron antibody cocktail isbeing usedto help treat people who’ve been vaccinated but still become ill with COVID-19.
Sorrento Therapeutics.This small biotech companyannouncedin May that it has an antibody drug that’s been effective in early testing in blocking SARS-CoV-2.
The company says the drug could potentially be used to treat people with COVID-19 as well as help prevent infection.
A preprintstudypublished in September found that the antibody protected Syrian golden hamsters that were infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Vir Biotechnologyhasisolatedantibodies from people who survived SARS, a disease caused by another coronavirus. The company is working with Chinese firm WuXi Biologics to test them as a treatment for COVID-19.
In October, Vir and drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline began aphase 3 trialof its antibody therapy VIR-7831. In late May, the FDA
In early November, Reutersreportedthat a large-scale plan by the World Health Organization to supply COVID-19 drugs to poorer countries would focus on antibody treatments and steroids but not include remdesivir.
Along the same lines, the FDA has
The theory is that their plasma contains antibodies that will attack this particular coronavirus.
In late March, the New York Blood Centerbegan collecting plasmafrom people who have recovered from COVID-19.
In late May, researchersreportedthat 19 of 25 people with COVID-19 who were treated with convalescent plasma transfusions at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas had improved. Eleven of those patients have been released from the hospital.
Mayo ClinicandMichigan State Universityare also leading convalescent plasma programs.
In late August, the FDAapprovedan emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma therapy to treat COVID-19. Some experts, however, said more research needs to be done on this type of treatment.
A phase 2 trial published in
In some people with COVID-19, the immune system goes into overdrive, releasing large amounts of small proteins called cytokines.
Scientists think this “cytokine storm” may be the reason certain people with severe COVID-19 developARDSand need to be put on a ventilator.
Several immune suppressants are being tested in clinical trials to see whether the drugs can quell the cytokine storm and reduce the severity of ARDS.
Dexamethasone.The inexpensive corticosteroid is already approved for other conditions and can be given orally or intravenously.
Preliminary results published in July in theNew England Journal of Medicine发现that a moderate dose of dexamethasone reduced death in people hospitalized with COVID-19 on a ventilator and people receiving supplemental oxygen but not on a ventilator.
Other drugsbeing tested includebaricitinib, a drug for rheumatoid arthritis, andIL-6 inhibitors.
Eli Lillyannouncedin October that baricitinib in combination with remdesivir reduced recovery time and improved clinical outcomes in people with COVID-19. The largest benefits were seen in those receiving supplemental oxygen or noninvasive ventilation.
In October, the National Institutes of Health began a
The FDA has also approved a device that
Athersys Inc.began aphase 2 and 3 trialthat will examine whether the company’s stem cell treatment could potentially benefit people with ARDS.
Mesoblasthas also developed a potential stem cell treatment for ARDS. The company is enrolling people with moderate to severe ARDS into aphase 2 and 3 clinical trialin the United States. As of October, the company hadenrolledmore than half of the participants for the phase 3 trial.
Scientists are also looking at other ways to target the virus or treat the complications of COVID-19.
Antibody cocktail.In July 2020, researchers at Columbia University in New Yorkannouncedsome initial success in using a mix of antibodies to potentially treat people with a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
They said the antibodies were collected from people hospitalized with COVID-19. The drug mixtures were tested on human cells as well as hamsters.
If proven safe and effective, the antibodies would be given via blood transfusions to people who recently contracted the virus.
Antiviral drugs.In September 2021, Pfizer and Merck bothannouncednew clinical trials for their oral antiviral medications to treat COVID-19.
The Pfizer drug, known as PF-07321332, is designed for people with COVID-19 who are not considered at high risk for serious illness.
The Merck pill, which goes by the name molnupiravir, is designed for people who live in the same household as someone who has a symptomatic case of COVID-19.
Both medications are designed to prevent the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 from replicating.
Apilimod。In late July, Yale Universityannouncedit’s conducting a trial with AI Therapeutics on a drug known as apilimod.
Yale officials said the medication has been proven safe in treating autoimmune diseases and follicular lymphoma.
They said preliminary research indicates apilimod can block cellular entry of the new coronavirus.
The drug has been granted fast-track status by the FDA.
Arthritis Drugs.1月初,居屋计划pital officials in the United Kingdomreportedthat tocilizumab and sarilumab, drugs used to treat arthritis, can reduce the length of time spent in a hospital by 10 days.
They added that the two drugs can reduce the risk of death from COVID-19 by 24 percent for people who are seriously ill with the disease.
Blood thinners.In mid-September, U.S. researchersannouncedthey’ve started two clinical trials to look at the possibility of using blood thinners to treat COVID-19.
One trial would focus on people with COVID-19 who have been hospitalized while the other would center on those with COVID-19 who weren’t hospitalized.
In mid-February, a
Cannabinoid drug ARDS-003.In mid-September, officials at Canada-based Tetra Bio-Pharmaannouncedthey had received FDA approval to start a phase 1 trial of a synthetic cannabinoid drug to treat COVID-19.
Company officials said the medication may provide protection against ARDS, a condition that’s the most common cause of death for people with severe COVID-19.
Diabetes drug.In late September, researchersreported糖尿病药物sitagliptin减少死亡nd improved clinical outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes who were given the drug after being hospitalized for COVID-19.
Researchers said it’s possible that sitagliptin could also help people without type 2 diabetes who develop COVID-19.
Feline coronavirus drug.In early September, a studyreportedthat a drug sometimes used to treat a coronavirus illness in cats showed promise in a trial against COVID-19 in humans.
The drug hasn’t been approved by the FDA for use in cats or people, but researchers say it’s shown indications it can stop SARS-CoV-2 from replicating by targeting a key part of the virus’s cellular machinery.
Gout drug. Astudypublished in early February reported that colchicine, a drug used to treat gout, reduces the need for supplemental oxygen as well as speeds up the recovery for people who are hospitalized with COVID-19. Researchers said people treated with colchicine needed oxygen to help breathing for three fewer days on average. They also spent on average two fewer days in the hospital.
Ibuprofen.In early June, scientistsstarted a clinical trialto see whether the pain medication could be used for people hospitalized with COVID-19.
Their theory is that ibuprofen’s anti-inflammatory qualities could help ease breathing difficulties associated with the illness.
Interferon beta.In mid-July, scientists in the United Kingdomreportedsuccess in initial tests with a protein called interferon beta. The body produces this protein during viral infections.
The researchers said the protein is inhaled directly into the lungs of someone with a SARS-CoV-2 infection in hopes of stimulating an immune response.
They said the protein reduced the odds of developing a severe form of the disease in hospitalized patients by 79 percent.
Preliminary results from a
Molnupiravir. This drug, manufactured by Merck, is an oral antiviral agent. In early March,resultsfrom a phase 2a clinical trial indicated the drug may reduce the length of illness derived from COVID-19 infections.
Nasal spray.In late September, officials at Australian biotech company Ena Respiratoryreportedthat a nasal spray used to treat colds and flu was highly effective in an animal study in reducing SARS-CoV-2 replication. Human trials are scheduled to start soon.
Nitric oxide.In October, Nitric Oxide Innovations (NOI) LLC announced plans to begin aphase 2B and 3Aoutpatient clinical study of NOviricid, an oral lozenge that stimulates the production of nitric oxide in the body.
The study will enroll African Americans, a group that has beendisproportionately affectedby COVID-19.
Earlierresearchhas suggested that nitric oxide might work as a treatment for COVID-19 by improving blood vessel function. It may also prevent certain viruses from replicating.
Synthetic antibodies.In mid-August, scientists at the University of California, San Franciscoannouncedthey had created synthetic antibodies that may neutralize the new coronavirus.
The compound still has to go through clinical trials, but the scientists said it could be available within a few months in a nasal spray or inhaler.
Repurposed drugs.Astudyreleased in September 2021 reported that there are nine currently used drugs that could possibly be repurposed to treat COVID-19. In a trial on human cells, the researchers said these drugs help stop the novel coronavirus from replicating after it has entered a cell. The drugs have not been tested yet on patients.
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.These drugs received emergency use authorization from the FDA at the end of March.
On June 15, the FDA
At the time of the FDA authorization in March, manufacturer Novartisdonatedabout 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine and 1 million doses of chloroquine to the nation’s existing Strategic National Stockpile.
The United States is now left with63 million doses of hydroxychloroquineand 2 million doses of chloroquine in its emergency stockpile.
Clinical results for the drugs have beenmixed. Studies published in May in theNew England Journal of Medicineand
In late May, the World Health Organizationannouncedit was halting its clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine due to safety concerns.
In mid-June, the National Institutes of Health
6月下旬,英国官员announcedthey would restart a global clinical trial on hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.
In late July, scientists in Brazilannouncedthat hydroxychloroquine given alone or with other drugs didn’t improve the condition of people hospitalized with mild to moderate COVID-19.
In late September, researchers at the University of Pennsylvaniareportedthat hydroxychloroquine was no more effective in preventing the contraction of the new coronavirus in people who took the drug as opposed to those who didn’t.
In early March, the a panel of experts from the WHO
- Phase 1.The drug is given to a small number of healthy people and people with a disease to look for side effects and figure out the best dose.
- Phase 2.The drug is given to several hundred people who have the disease, looking to see whether it works and if there are any side effects that weren’t caught during the initial testing.
- Phase 3.In this large-scale trial, the drug is given to several hundred or even up to 3,000 people. A similar group of people take a placebo, or inactive compound. The trial is usually randomized and can take 1 to 4 years. This stage provides the best evidence of how the drug works and the most common side effects.
- Phase 4.Drugs that are approved for use undergo continued monitoring to make sure there are no other side effects, especially serious or long-term ones.