When the coronavirus appeared behind COVID-19 last year, experts were not exactly prepared. The virus spread rapidly from person to person without any real treatment being available because the virus was so new – and those infections have since resulted in millions of deaths. Oxford University researchers created the Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) test in March 2020 to study and determine possible treatments for COVID. In a new study from the experiment, the researchers concluded that one medication already used to treat a general health condition can actually help prevent death in those who become infected with the coronavirus. Read on to find out which medications can be life-saving for COVID patients, and for more medical interventions, these OTC medications can kill COVID, study says.
Researchers at Oxford University have randomly targeted more than 2,000 COVID patients to receive tocilizumab, a medication created to treat people with rheumatoid arthritis and known under the brand name Actemra. Based on the results, published on February 11, the researchers found that tocilizumab may reduce the risk of death in patients with severe COVID in the hospital. While 33 percent of the patients not treated with this medication died, only 29 percent of those who received tocilizumab died. “This means that for every 25 patients treated with tocilizumab, one extra life would be saved,” the researchers said. And for more information on your coronavirus risk: if you did, you’re twice as likely to develop severe COVID.
Using this drug could also help someone with severe COVID leave the hospital earlier, researchers found. According to the study, tocilizumab increased the likelihood of hospital discharge within 28 days from 47 percent to 54 percent. And for patients who had not been in a ventilator before the study, the medication reduced patients’ chances of a ventilator from 38 percent to 33 percent.
“Previous tests with tocilizumab showed mixed results, and it was unclear which patients would benefit from the treatment. We now know that the benefits of tocilizumab extend to all COVID patients with low oxygen levels and significant inflammation. Peter Horby, MD, a professor of emerging infectious diseases and joint chief investigator for REPAIR, said in a statement. And sign up for our daily newsletter for more information.
In June 2020, researchers for this trial found that dexamethasone, a cortisone-like steroid that relieves inflammation, also reduces death for patients with severe COVID. Researchers noted that 82 percent of patients in their new study for tocilizumab also take a systemic steroid such as dexamethasone. These types of steroids have become a ‘standard care’ given to patients hospitalized with severe COVID, researchers noted. Based on their findings, it is clear that the “benefits of tocilizumab in it addition for those of steroids. ‘
“The results of the RECOVERY trial clearly show the benefits of tocilizumab and dexamethasone in tackling the worst effects of COVID-19 – improving survival, shortening hospital stays and reducing the need for mechanical fans,” he said. Martin Landray, PhD, a professor of medicine and epidemiology and co-principal investigator, said in a statement. “In combination, the impact is significant.” And for more ways to stay healthy, these 3 vitamins can save you from serious COVID, study findings.
Although this study is from the United Kingdom, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may at some point consider this treatment for use in this country. To date, the FDA has already approved one medication, Remdesivir, to treat COVID and approved several emergency monoclonal antibody treatments. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were previously allowed for emergency use, but were revoked in June after further data showed they had no benefit in reducing the likelihood of COVID death. And for more essential guidance from the FDA, if you see it on your mask, tell the FDA to throw it away immediately.