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MAJOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
1. The French infectious disease researcher who did the initial small-scale hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin tests that showed a 100% cure rate with those 2 drugs combined has now completed a larger study. Details:
Preprint just released, will be published over the weekend.
Again no control group (likely again due to time pressure).
80 patients, all hospitalized with COVID-19.
79 of the 80 survived, a result considered quite remarkable.
Within 8 days, 93% of the patients had no detectable virus in their bodies.
Results fit with anecdotal cure reports coming in from doctors and patients in the field.
Better studies are underway now.
2. Anecdotal reports from rheumatologists about hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19. Details:
A number of rheumatologists (who routinely prescribe hydroxychloroquine for their patients for other conditions like arthritis) are reporting apparent significant antiviral effects of hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19.
No further details or studies at this time.
3. Safety study on use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin together. Details:
Uncontrolled.
Found no incremental (additional) risk of using the two drugs together.
Results fit with anecdotal reports from doctors in the field indicating no major problems using these 2 drugs together.
Better studies to follow soon.
4. Convalescent plasma study. Details:
Published in JAMA.
Recovered patients' plasma was given to current COVID-19 patients to transfer antibodies.
Small-scale study with 5 patients, all "morbidly ill" with COVID-19.
All had lungs heavily affected, were in the ICU and were intubated (on ventilators).
All 5 patients survived.
Of the 5, 3 went home, the other 2 are doing okay.
Perfect recovery rate of 5/5 is considered remarkable at that advanced level of seriousness.
Larger proper clinical trials starting in NY now.
5. FDA just approved a new COVID-19 test. Details:
Compact, can be done in a doctor's office, no hospital needed.
Provides positive results in 5 minutes.
Provides negative results in 13 minutes.
Will facilitate much easier and widespread mass testing.
Intention is to test millions of people in April.
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Edited by user
6 years ago |
Reason: Not specified