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Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
Published on: April 19, 2024
Contemporary narrative review of treatment options for COVID-19
Lianhan Shang1,2,3, David Chien Lye4,5,6,7, Bin Cao1,2,3,8,9
1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is ongoing and many drugs have been studied in clinical trials. From a pathophysiological perspective, anti-viral drugs may be more effective in the early stage while immunomodulators may be more effective in severe patients in later stages of infection. While drugs such as lopinavir-ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin have proved to be ineffective in randomized controlled trials, corticosteroids, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir, tocilizumab and baricitinib have been reported to benefit certain groups of patients with COVID-19. In this review, we will present the key clinical evidence and progress in promising COVID-19 therapeutics, as well as summarize the experience and lessons learned from the development of the current therapeutics.
Insights
This review covers COVID-19 treatments, highlighting effective therapies like corticosteroids and remdesivir for specific patient groups. It summarizes key evidence and lessons learned from drug development during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid evaluation of numerous therapeutic agents.
- Understanding the pathophysiological stages of infection informs treatment strategies, differentiating roles for antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key clinical evidence and progress in promising COVID-19 therapeutics.
- To summarize experiences and lessons learned from the development of current COVID-19 treatments.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and clinical evidence for COVID-19 therapeutics.
- Analysis of drug efficacy based on disease stage and patient severity.
Main Results:
- Lopinavir-ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin showed ineffectiveness in randomized controlled trials.
- Corticosteroids, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir, tocilizumab, and baricitinib demonstrated benefits in specific patient populations.
Conclusions:
- Certain therapeutics, including corticosteroids and remdesivir, offer benefits for specific COVID-19 patient groups.
- Lessons learned from COVID-19 drug development can inform future pandemic preparedness and therapeutic strategies.
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