Posted on 03/20/2020 12:55:33 PM PDT by Red Badger
Queensland researchers are set to begin clinical trials of a potential treatment for COVID-19 – using two existing drugs.
University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research Director and Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) Professor David Paterson said the drugs proved highly effective when first used against the virus in test tubes.
“We’re now ready to begin patient trials with the drugs, one of which is an HIV medication and the other an anti-malaria drug,” Professor Paterson said.
“Prior to the clinical trials going ahead, the medications were given to some of the first Australian patients infected with COVID-19, and all have completely recovered without any trace of the virus left in their system.
“These medications have the potential to be a real cure for all, unlike the random anecdotal experiences of some people.”
Professor Paterson said the researchers want to start a large clinical trial involving 50 hospitals across Australia to determine the best way to use the drugs.
“This would involve comparing one drug versus the other, versus the combination of the two drugs,” he said.
"We are ready to go and can begin very quickly enrolling patients in our trial.
“Realistically we could be able to enrol patients by the end of the month.
“This will enable us to test the first wave of Australian patients and gain real-world experience with this treatment, especially since we expect ongoing infections to continue for many months.
“If we can obtain the best possible information now, then we can quickly treat subsequent patients down the track."
Professor Paterson said the drugs to be used in the clinical trials can be administered orally as tablets.
“Our aim is to treat patients ‘as soon as they're admitted’ to hospital in controlled settings.
"We want to give every Australian in need the absolute best treatment we can.”
Professor Paterson has praised the RBWH Foundation and the launch of its Coronavirus Action Fund for its efforts in helping to raise funds to begin the clinical trials.
Media: Faculty of Medicine Communications, med.media@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 5118, +61 436 368 746.
Never even mentions the names of the drugs.
I’ve heard its the malaria drug + something else
They have been noted elsewhere.
As mentioned elsewhere on FR, our FDA will approve of a drug cure for COVID-19 *after* the virus has run through its course (or at least most of it). The benefits of living in a litigious society.
Secret................
HIV med?
That's interesting because HIV is a retrovirus. I wonder which med and what might be the mode of action.
They just absolved mask makers from liability. They can do it here as well.
Might be ritonavir.
Probably remdesivir which is the antiviral that some facilities are using.
The two drugs most commonly named are chloroquine and remdisivir.
Remdesivir is an experimental drug, not used against HIV. The “HIV drugs” that have been used as a Hail Mary in some cases are ritonavir and lopinavir. These were developed to fight HIV, but other uses have been found for them in addition - ritonavir is used to treat hepatitis C and lopinavir is used to treat human papilloma virus. The latter has proven astoundingly effective against HPV.
.
Remdesivir is designed to work on single-stranded RNA viruses, and the chinese Corona virus is such a bug.
I was curious how an HIV med (HIV is a retrovirus, and they are sooper nasty) and if an HIV med worked on it, there might be a more broad spectrum mode of action than one might guess.
Interesting times. The sci community will know much more about unexpected modes pathogen therapies when the dust settles.
Not if it's hydroxychloroquine, which has been around for decades and is approved for off label use.
Any idea what the names of the 2 drugs are ?
Don’t hold your breath ...
It takes on average 12 years and over US$350 million to get a new drug from the laboratory onto the pharmacy shelf.
https://www.drugs.com/fda-approval-process.html
And if the government assumes responsibility for any problems...
Attorneys will be lined up across the country to file lawsuits.
Spktyr wrote:
“Remdesivir is an experimental drug, not used against HIV. The “HIV drugs” that have been used as a Hail Mary in some cases are ritonavir and lopinavir. These were developed to fight HIV, but other uses have been found for them in addition - ritonavir is used to treat hepatitis C and lopinavir is used to treat human papilloma virus. The latter has proven astoundingly effective against HPV.”
Thanks for this info!
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