Reasons for hope: the drugs, tests and tactics that may conquer coronavirus

STATUS: Repurposed Experimental EARLY RESULTS: 0-3 months Gilead starts two late-stage studies to test drug for coronavirus Link: here Investors await data on coronavirus drugs as market rally builds Link: here Gilead asks FDA to revoke orphan drug status for potential coronavirus drug Link: here Clinical Trials Link: here New England Journal of Medicine, April 2020 Link: here Malaria drug also believed to have antiviral activity. STATUS: Repurposed EARLY RESULTS: 0-3 months Special Report: Doctors embrace drug touted by Trump for COVID-19, without hard evidence it works Link: here Coronavirus drug hopefuls are cheap to make but may be in short supply Link: here Clinical Trials Link: here Journal of Zhejiang Univ (Med Sci), March 2020 Link: here Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses, March 2020 Link: here Nature, February 2020 Link: here ACTEMRA (TOCILIZUMAB) - ROCHE Monoclonal antibody approved for rheumatoid arthritis and also for treating the “cytokine storm” immune overresponse in cancer patients. STATUS: Repurposed EARLY RESULTS: 0-3 months Coronavirus drug hopefuls are cheap to make but may be in short supply Link: here Clinical Trials Link: here KEVZARA (SARILUMAB) - SANOFI, REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS Monoclonal antibody approved for inflammatory arthritis, and in trials targeting the “cytokine storm” immune response in severely ill COVID-19 patients. STATUS: Repurposed EARLY RESULTS: 0-3 months Data on arthritis drug to treat coronavirus could come within weeks, according to Regeneron executive Link: here Exclusive: Sanofi can produce millions of doses of potential coronavirus drug - CEO Link: here Sanofi, Regeneron expand testing of potential coronavirus treatment Link: here Clinical Trials Link: here JAKAVI (RUXOLITINIB) - NOVARTIS, INCYTE Developed to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and in late-stage development as a cream for atopic dermatitis. One trial each in Canada and Mexico will test the drug in COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory symptoms associated with the “cytokine storm” immune response, with preliminary results expected by June 2020. STATUS: Repurposed EARLY RESULTS: 0-3 months Key China coronavirus hospital says HIV drug beneficial to patients Link: here Mylan waives exclusive U.S. distribution rights for potential COVID-19 therapy Link: here Clinical Trials Link: here New England Journal of Medicine, March 2020 Link: here RHACE2 APN01 - APEIRON BIOLOGICS A recombinant human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (rhACE2) under Phase-2 clinical development in ALI (Acute Lung Injury) and PAH (Pulmonal arterial hypertension). In early April, a trial in the Netherlands launched to test IFX-1 in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, with preliminary results expected in late October 2020. STATUS: Experimental EARLY RESULTS: 12-18 months Epidemic response group ups coronavirus vaccine funding to $23.7 million Link: here Epidemic response group ups coronavirus vaccine funding to $23.7 million Link: here Clinical Trial Link: here *NON-DRUG THERAPIES* Blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients is transfused into patients who are currently ill, in the hope the freshly-made antibodies it contains will help fight the virus.