Quite a few companies have leaped into the fray to combat COVID-19. Here is Peterson’s summary.
- An HIV Drug for use in COVID-19. The company is AbbVie and the drug is Kaletra (lopinavir + ritonavir). AbbVie said that it would NOT enforce its patent rights to this HIV drug for use in COVID-19 if there was a company who wanted to pursue this drug. One test using this drug to treat COVID-19 failed, but more testing is planned.
- T-Cell Therapy. The company is AlloVir and their collaborator is the Baylor College of Medicine.
- This is very important since NSAIDS are a key treatment for musculoskeletal pain. There was some concern that NSAIDS might exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms. Not so, said the FDA. The FDA’s statement regarding NSAIDS in COVID-19 patients was that there is insufficient evidence that using NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, exacerbates the symptoms of COVID-19 and they advised patient to keep using prescribed NSAIDS as directed.
- The company is Gilead Sciences. This is the most advanced treatment yet for COVID-19. Results so far have been mixed. But, given the overnight surge in critically ill COVID-19 patients, the company has been swamped with orders. Gilead is now directing patients toward existing trials while also working on a program for patients for whom a trial is not an option. The company intends to collect data from all patients—whether in a trial or not.
- One of the most watched clinical study is the ≥3,200-patient, 5-arm, open-label DISCOVERY which is a head-to-head comparison of four investigational therapies (remdesivir, Kaletra, Kaletra + interferon beta, and hydroxychloroquine) versus standard of care (whatever that is). DISCOVERY has started in Europe/U.K.
- Roche/Genentech received the green light from the FDA to go-ahead with its Phase II trial of Actemra (tocilizumab) which is an anti-IL-6, IV arthritis drug.
But Wait, There’s Still More – TESTS
- The company is 3D Medicine Science & Technology. The product is a SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A&B RT-qPCR detection kit. Its key feature is that it can simultaneously detect influenza A, influenza B, and the coronavirus. Status: CE Mark Granted.
- The company is Bio-Rad Laboratory. The product is QX200 ddPCR SARS-CoV-2 droplet digital PCR test. Status: Bio-Rad is working with Biodesix to get emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA.
- The company is Bioneer. The product is AccuPower SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time RT-PCR Kit and AccuPower COVID-19 Real-Time RT-PCR Kit. Status: CE Mark Granted.
- The company is Iceni Diagnostics. The product is a point-of-care test which detects and differentiates SARS-CoV-2 from common influenza strains using artificial glycan receptors.
- The company is SolGent. The product is DiaPlexQ Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Detection assay. Status: CE Mark Granted. Emergency use authorized in South Korea. Philippine FDA Approval.
Final Mid-Course Notes
There is no vaccine, yet.
Doctors can tell when a patient’s COVID-19 infection is over when there are no symptoms, including fever and the patient has had two negative tests 24 hours apart.
Evidence is emerging that this disease causes long-term lung damage.
We’re grateful to Lynn Peterson and Trends-in-Medicine for letting us summarize some of their key points. For the ENTIRE and more DETAILED reports, subscribe here.
