COVID-19: Reaction to early drug trials
24 April 2020
Professor Ian Jones, virologist at the University of Reading, said:
"We are beginning to see a number of early drug trial reports and, generally, the results are disappointing. In this case the drugs were a long shot as they were developed for different viruses, not specifically for coronaviruses. But it should also be borne in mind that, for drugs that target the virus itself, the timing of any drug treatment is crucial. Antivirals have to be given as early as possible if their effect on the virus is to have any clinical effect. Think "bull in a china shop", if the bull is stopped as it leaves the shop the damage is already done but if it is stopped soon after entry, the damage is much reduced. Ideally drug treatment would follow an early diagnosis when symptoms are hardly present. So it is too early to give up on Covid drug therapy yet. Given at the appropriate time they could still impact disease, improve recovery and limit virus spread. More trials, with drug given at earlier times, are needed."