COVID-19: Remdesivir Leads Race for Effective Treatments
The global pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has swept the world, infecting tens of millions and claiming over 2 million lives. The United States has been the hardest hit. While vaccines are now available, treatments remain a crucial area of research.
COVID-19 presents with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue, affecting older adults and those with underlying conditions most severely. The disease has spread rapidly, with no proven effective treatments yet. However, several experimental medications are being investigated.
The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorizations for several treatments, including bamlanivimab, casirivimab and imdevimab, baricitinib, and COVID-19 convalescent plasma. Remdesivir (Veklury) was the first drug approved by the FDA in October 2020 for treating hospitalized patients aged 12 and older. Meanwhile, Azelastin, an H1 antihistamine, and BC 007, which targets Long COVID, are showing promise in recent studies.
Supportive treatments include fluids to reduce dehydration, fever-reducing medication, supplemental oxygen, and ventilators in severe cases. Convalescent plasma must be administered early and test as high titer to be effective. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face masks in public to slow the virus's spread, reserving surgical masks and N95 respirators for healthcare workers.
The global fight against COVID-19 continues, with vaccines now available but treatments still under investigation. The FDA's approval of Remdesivir and Emergency Use Authorizations for other medications offer hope. Meanwhile, promising results from Azelastin and BC 007 studies provide further encouragement in the ongoing search for effective treatments.
