A successful trial of the drug remdesivir, US patients recovered from Covid

A trial of remdesivir in COVID-19 patients

In 2012, a group of scientists made a compound that was still known as compound 3a. This compound turns out to be able to kill various types of viruses, one of which is the coronavirus which is the cause of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The 3a compound is developed into another compound called remdesivir. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that is currently being tested because it has the potential to treat COVID-19. One of the trials was carried out by researchers from Chicago.

They tested remdesivir in 125 COVID-19 patients. Of these, 113 patients had high fever and symptoms of severe respiratory distress. Trials were carried out by giving patients daily remdesivir by injection.

After being routinely given remdesivir, nearly all COVID-19 patients recovered within just a week of starting the trial. Dr. Research leader Kathleen Mullane said most of the patients had also been discharged. During the trial, only two patients died.

COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData

1,024,298

Confirmed

831,330

Recovered

28,855

DeathDistribution Map

Mullane said this trial was not actually definitive proof that remdesivir could actually cure COVID-19. However, therapy using remdesivir has indeed been shown to reduce fever in COVID-19 patients quickly.

Remdesivir also has the potential to relieve respiratory symptoms. This can be seen from the number of patients who can immediately remove the ventilator a day after being given the drug. This is a major breakthrough in the treatment of COVID-19.

He also added that most of the COVID-19 patients in this trial had severe symptoms, but they were able to go home after being given remdesivir for six days. So, the duration of treatment does not have to be the ten days that has been estimated.

Similar trials are also being carried out in various parts of the world. To date, there are a total of 2,400 patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms who are undergoing trials at 152 locations. The results are likely to be seen at the end of this month.

How remdesivir kills the COVID-19 virus

Remdesivir is often relied on in clinical trials for two reasons. First, this drug was used to treat Ebola, so it is safe for humans. Second, data from various studies have shown that remdesivir can overcome coronavirus infection.

The Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2 are two very different viruses. However, remdesivir has an accurate strategy to kill both of them. This drug does not directly attack the virus, but the system used by the virus to reproduce itself.

SARS-CoV-2 requires a substance called polymerase to reproduce itself. Polymerase is like a factory that collects raw materials, then forms a DNA chain from the material. After the DNA is composed, then the virus forms other parts of the "body" to produce new viruses.

Remdesivir hijacks this process by infiltrating these raw materials, but this is not realized by polymerases. Polymerases keep forming new DNA chains without realizing that remdesivir is one of the ingredients.

SARS-CoV-2 ultimately was unable to produce new viruses because these viruses had already been destroyed before they formed. The amount of virus in the body decreases and the patient can recover quickly.

Drug trials on COVID-19 patients in Asia

More than 45 countries have participated in drug trials to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The program entitled Solidarity Trial was conducted on four alternative drugs that have been tried and are still being researched, namely:

Remdesivir
Combined lopinavir and ritonavir
Combined lopinavir and ritonavir plus interferon (ß1b)
Chloroquine

China has previously tested a number of drugs on COVID-19 patients. Although promising, the results of this trial still need to be studied further because the number of patients is considered insufficient. As of April 15, trials of remdesivir in patients were still pending.

Malaysia has also participated in drug trials since early April. Similar steps were taken by allied countries including Thailand and Indonesia. However, the community still needs to be patient until the trial results are published.

While waiting for the trial results, the best thing that can be done now is to take preventive measures. Wash your hands with soap and water. Stay home and apply social distancing . If you leave the house, you must wear a mask. Complete by maintaining endurance and eating nutritious foods.