A trial of remdesivir as a covid drug

The United States recently reported the results of a trial of remdesivir on COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Chicago. The trial was declared a success because the symptoms of COVID-19 seemed to decrease after the patient was given an injection of remdesivir. However, recent clinical trials have shown that remdesivir has not been successful in treating patients.

Remdesivir is one of four drugs being tested because it is considered a potential drug for COVID-19. This drug is increasingly gaining popularity because it is claimed to relieve the symptoms of COVID-19, even in patients with severe complaints. So, what do the results of the latest trials on remdesivir say?

Remdesivir has not been shown to treat COVID-19

While the clinical trials of remdesivir were being conducted in Chicago, several states were conducting similar trials. As of the end of April, a total of 2,400 patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms were undergoing trials in 152 different locations.

One of the most anticipated trial results is the one that was recently reported. The clinical trial was conducted in China and has become the gold standard for clinical trials around the world. The total number of patients studied was 237 people.

Patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 158 patients who were given remdesivir routinely. Meanwhile, the second group consisted of 79 patients who were given standard COVID-19 care without remdesivir.

As a result, there were no specific differences between the groups that were given remdesivir and those that were not. Both groups needed the same amount of time to recover.

This finding is in contrast to the results of a study in Chicago, which stated that the patient's symptoms decreased dramatically after being given remdesivir for about a week.

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In addition, as many as 14% of patients from the first group died in treatment. Meanwhile, in the second group, 13% of patients died. It was from the results of these trials that the researchers concluded that remdesivir had not yet become a potential drug.

Trials should also be stopped early because of side effects. A total of 18 patients from the first group experienced side effects, more than the second group with only four patients experiencing treatment side effects.

There was no further explanation as to what effect the patient had. However, it is known that remdesivir has a variety of side effects, ranging from acute kidney failure, low blood pressure, to organ failure.

Why are the results of trials for remdesivir different?

The Chicago trial of remdesivir was essentially not a complete failure. The research is actually quite promising, especially in the midst of a pandemic that is still spreading. It's just that, this trial has drawbacks.

In a study, there must be two groups. One group was given drug therapy, while the other group was a control group that was not given drugs. Researchers and subjects both do not know what therapy is given to each group.

Researchers in Chicago administered remdesivir to all of the patients they studied. However, there was no control group. In the absence of a control group, all the patients who recovered in Chicago seemed to be getting better on remdesivir.

In fact, researchers cannot confirm whether the patient will actually recover because of remdesivir or because of COVID-19 treatment alone.

The study was also relatively short with a small number of patients. If the number of patients is too small, the results of the study cannot be used to make a conclusion. This is why a study can involve up to hundreds of participants.

The same thing was found in trials by China in early April. A number of researchers have tested several drugs on COVID-19 patients. Although promising, the results of this trial still need further study because the number of patients is insufficient.

The 'cure' for COVID-19 that already exists today

Scientists are still developing drugs and vaccines for COVID-19. While waiting for the latest trial results, the best thing you can do is protect yourself and your family from the spread of COVID-19.

Launching the World Health Organization (WHO), the most effective ways to prevent contracting COVID-19 are:

• Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer made from alcohol.
• Maintain a distance from other people, at least one meter away.
• Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Don't crowd or go to crowded places.
• Do not touch the face area without washing hands.
• Stay home and run physical distancing during large-scale social distancing (PSBB).

The trials of remdesivir as a COVID-19 drug carried out to date may not have been successful, but scientists from within and outside the country will continue to work on developing it.

As an individual, you can play an active role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by implementing prevention efforts.