Top Therapeutic Drugs Fighting Against Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus has imposed an invincible threat to both the world economy and its people, challenging all researchers and government officials and leaving frontline health workers at high risk. The virus has spread its tentacles to every corner and has not shown any indication of reduction. There is an immediate need for developing an effective measure to contain the disastrous virus outbreak. Many researchers are fighting against time and several trials are ongoing for the identification of an effective drug. So far 300 active clinical trials are registered for the containment of the virus, some of which are as follows:

Remdesivir (GS-5734): Status phase III

At the moment Remdesivir (GS-5734) has shown the most promising results with the efficacy of providing relief to millions of people infected by the virus. It is developed by Gilead Sciences and is currently in its third phase of trials. The two-phase III trials analyzed the safety and efficiency of the drug in both five days and ten days dosing process in severe patients and the second will observe the same process over the same duration but with mild COVID -19 manifestations.

CD24Fc: Status phase III

CD24Fc is developed by OncoImmune, Inc. which is currently in its third phase of clinical trials. The third trial will test the efficacy of the drug for hospitalized patients infected with the virus in the U.S. The purpose of the drug is to weaken the effect and the inflammation caused by the injured cells thus providing relief to the infected patients suffering from immune dysfunction and cytokine storm.

Kevzara: Status phase II and III

This drug is developed by Sanofi and Regeneron where Regeneron is responsible for the trials in the US and Sanofi is leading the trials outside the US. Kevzara was developed to test the efficacy in Chinese infected patients to some extent. It is stipulated to cure patients with rheumatoid arthritis who did not respond well to the previous treatments.

Actemra (tocilizumab): Status phase III

Actemra is developed by Roche in partnership with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the US. Trials were on 19 March and are adapting double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment method.

Tradipitant (VLY-686): Status phase III

Tradipitant is developed by Vanda Pharmaceuticals and is currently under its third phase of operations in collaboration with the research arm of Northwell health. It is adapting the double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment method for the treatment of lung inflammation caused by the COVID-19 infection.

Analyzing the uncertainty

There is high hope for the availability of therapeutic drugs targeting the COVID-19 virus to be made available in a few months. Although some impacts are inevitable still the governments are setting up a potential stage and are taking drastic measures to capture the spilled effects of the virus. With the extraordinary research facilities and collaboration in the discovery of the potential antiviral drug, our hopes will be on the horizon. Solidarity Test is an international clinical trial to help find successful therapy for COVID-19, initiated by WHO and collaborators.

“Remdesivir; Lopinavir/Ritonavir; and Lopinavir/Ritonavir with Interferon beta-1a treatment options were originally selected based on evidence from laboratory, animal and clinical studies. Hydroxychloroquine was originally included in the trial but this arm was stopped, as of 17 June 2020, as evidence showed it did not result in the reduction of mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients when compared with standard of care.”

“As of 3 June 2020, more than 3500 patients have been recruited in 35 countries, with over 400 hospitals actively recruiting patients.”

   -  The World Health Organization