COVID-19 treatment options

Claims: the information is for your reference only. Please follow the advice from the doctors if you experience COVID-19 symptoms. 

Treatment for COVID-19: 

Proven to be no effect: hydroxychloroquine 羥氯喹 (ref 1), azithromycin also called Z-Pak (Zithromax, Pfizer) 阿奇黴素 (ref 2).

Remdesivir (GS-5734), an inhibitor of the viral RNA polymerase, proven to be effective for hospitalized patients who only required supplemental oxygen. There was no observed benefit of remdesivir in those who were on high-flow oxygen, noninvasive ventilation, neigther for patients with mild to moderate conditions (ref 3). However, WHO recommends against the use of remdesivir in COVID-19 patients on 20 November 2020, no reason is given which is weird (ref 4a). FDA still approves its use based on 3 Nov. notice (ref 4b). 

Antibody treatments target the spike protein, which the virus utilizes to enter host cells. Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody regimen, bamlanivimab (also known as LY-CoV555),?consists of two antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its receptor binding domain; Regeneron’s products, casirivimab (REGN10933) and imdevimab (REGN10987), consists of two antibodies that bind to different regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (ref 5).?However, the supporting evidences based on the clinical trial results for both are not very strong.

Fever reducing for COVID-19: Acetaminophen (Tylenol, DayQuil etc). 服用維生素C要早 + 不宜用 ibuprofen 退燒。

Ref 1: Effect of Hydroxychloroquine in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19.  Nov. 19, 2020. New England Journal of Medicine 383:2030-2040. 

Ref 2: Hydroxychloroquine with or without Azithromycin in Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19. Nov. 19, 2020. New England Journal of Medicine 383:2041-2052

Ref 3: Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 — Final Report. Nov 5, 2020. New England Journal of Medicine 383:1813-1826.

Ref 4a: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/who-recommends-against-the-use-of-remdesivir-in-covid-19-patients#:~:text=WHO%20recommends%20against%20the%20use%20of%20remdesivir%20in%20COVID%2D19%20patients,-20%20November%202020&text=WHO%20has%20issued%20a%20conditional,other%20outcomes%20in%20these%20patients.

Ref 4b: https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/antiviral-therapy/remdesivir/

Ref 5: https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/therapeutics-and-interventions/monoclonal-antibodies/