![Remdesivir: ineffective against Covid-19?](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2021-01-29/i99393-remdesivir-inefficace-contre-la-covid-19.jpeg)
Remdesivir is a drug administered to patients suffering from Covid-19, as part of the Discovery trial, a project launched by Inserm in March 2020. In a January 27 press release, committees examined the known data nowadays.
The effectiveness of the drug evaluated
The Data and Safety Oversight Boards (DSMB) assessed the information from the Discovery trial report. Remdesivir was part of one of the therapeutic arms given to patients with Covid-19. The report concerns 776 patients, 389 of whom had received Remdesivir. Following this evaluation, the experts conclude that the drug turns out to be ineffective against Covid-19 and decide to stop testing it. Indeed, there is a lack of evidence regarding the action of Remdesivir after 15 days and 29 days of treatment. The decision was also approved by the board of directors of Discovery Europe. Still, Remdesivir had been deemed rather promising. The World Health Organization issued an unfavorable opinion last November, but continued to encourage scientists to continue clinical trials. In addition, the data collected from the participants in the study will be published and detailed in a peer-reviewed science journal. Research to find a treatment for Covid-19 is continuing as part of the Discovery trial, but also in other studies at the international level. It is essential to “provide solid evidence of their effectiveness on patients affected by Covid-19 “.
Discovery test
Indeed, the Discovery trial will continue in 80 centers in 14 countries. There remains a combination of two monoclonal antibodies targeted on the Sars-Cov-2 virus. Several drugs were tested as part of this project, complementary to the Solidarity trial, in particular hydroxychloroquine and the lopinavir / ritonavir combination. Last June, the hydroxychloroquine arm was discontinued, “for the sake of futility “ as well as the two arms containing the antivirals, for “cause of futility and security “. To date, dexamethasone is used to treat patients with severe Covid-19 who require mechanical ventilation or mask oxygen. This is the conclusion of a study carried out on more than 2,000 Covid patients, who received dexamethasone for 10 days. The results were then compared to those of a group of over 4,300 patients who had not received the drug. This corticosteroid reduces mortality in these people and reduces inflammation in the lungs.