WHO tests 3 more drugs in a broad search for Covid-19 treatments

Geneva, Aug 12 (Prensa Latina) The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday the next phase in its Solidarity trial: Solidarity PLUS will enroll hospitalized patients to test three new drugs (artesunate, imatinib and infliximabtres) in Covid-19 patients.

August 12, 2021
07:34

The Solidarity PLUS trial is a platform trial that represents the largest global collaboration among WHO Member States. It involves thousands of researchers in over 600 hospitals in 52 countries, 16 more countries than the first phase of trials.

These therapies – artesunate, imatinib and infliximab – were selected by an independent expert panel for their potential in reducing the risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

They are already used for other indications: artesunate is used for severe malaria, imatinib for certain cancers, and infliximab for diseases of the immune system such as Crohn’s Disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

‘Finding more effective and accessible therapeutics for COVID-19 patients remains a critical need, and WHO is proud to lead this global effort,’ said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

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