Single 'magic bullet' treatment for Covid-19 unlikely as FDA proposes cocktail of drugs to fight disease
There might be no single bullet to treat Covid-19. Doctors may have to turn to a cocktail of drugs and may even have to tailor different combinations for each patient, according to scientists from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as mild and severely-ill patients will need different treatments. "As the results of clinical trials become available, it may become increasingly clear that there is likely no single magic bullet to resolve the disease," Dr Montserrat Puig of the FDA said.
He added that a combination of several interventions might do a better job of targeting the disease. The FDA has collated useful information after reviewing how potential drugs have fared in various clinical trials. The data, published in Frontiers in Immunology, will not only guide experts to design better strategies in treatments for patients but will also help them develop better tools against the disease.
However, he cautions that the information in the study is not set in stone. "The research and data obtained from Covid-19 studies are rapidly evolving and continuously updated. Thus, as clearly stated in our review, the information provided is a 'lessons learned' to date and describes the knowledge available at the time of the publication of the review."
The categories of potential drugs reviewed by the FDA include those that keep the new coronavirus from entering human cells, antivirals that stop the virus from multiplying inside cells, antibodies that tamp down the body's often fatal immune reaction to the viral intruder and medications that strengthen the functioning of the lungs.
Most of the drugs under study for Covid-19 are repurposed drugs. "Given the time needed to generate a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and in the absence of specific treatments for Covid-19, the medical community and government authorities have focused their attention on drugs already available or under development that could ameliorate the condition of patients with this infection," authors wrote in their review.
Drugs that block the virus from entering or multiplying could come in handy for patients with mild disease. For those with severe conditions, experts could use medications that tone down harmful immune reactions, according to the review. As of now, the FDA has not approved any drugs against the disease. However, Gilead's antiviral Remdesvir is greenlit for emergency use after preliminary data documented a few benefits.
A recent study suggested that the drug was more likely to help Covid-19 patients who require oxygen support but do not yet need ventilators. Meanwhile, FDA commissioner Dr Stephen Hahn clarified the agency's stance on the controversial drug endorsed by President Trump: hydroxychloroquine. In an open letter, he said: "The drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have received particular attention. The medications are FDA-approved for some conditions, such as malaria, but they're not approved to prevent or treat Covid-19."
He added that these drugs could raise risk the risk of severe heart problems or death. However, they are safe for patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the FDA does not regulate them, which allows off-label use. "The agency neither endorses individual prescribing decisions nor prohibits physicians from prescribing medications. We do not regulate the practice of medicine."