Trump Is Undergoing Remdesivir Therapy, Here’s What You Need to Know About the Antiviral

Remdesivir and dexamethasone are two of the top contenders for a COVID-19 drug treatment, but what do we know about them?
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The search to find effective COVID-19 treatments has required scientists to study lots of drugs—both new and existing—and some of them (like hydroxychloroquine) don’t exactly pan out. But Remdesivir and Dexamethasone are showing promise as viable COVID-19 treatment options.

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid, similar to the hormone cortisol that’s produced by your adrenal glands. It has anti-inflammatory effects which help to suppress your body’s overreaction. Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication that stops the virus’ replication mechanisms by mimicking a necessary component of viral RNA. But what makes these two treatment options different (and possibly better) than the others in the running?

In this Elements, we sat down with Professor Horby (virtually, of course) who is leading a team running the the world’s largest clinical trial of COVID-19 drugs, to find out more about what makes these two so unique.

#covid19 #antivirals #covidtreatment #health #elements #seeker #science

Read More:

Coronavirus cure: What progress are we making on treatments?
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52354520
"Trials around the world are attempting to identify treatments for people with severe Covid-19. The first drugs that do make a difference are now being identified."

Coronavirus Drug and Treatment Tracker
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-drugs-treatments.html
"There is no cure yet for Covid-19. And even the most promising treatments to date only help certain groups of patients and await validation from further trials."

What helps, what doesn't, and what's in the pipeline
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/treatments-for-covid-19
"No specific treatments for COVID-19 exist right now. But some of the same things you do to feel better if you have the flu — getting enough rest, staying well hydrated, and taking medications to relieve fever and aches and pains — also help with COVID-19."
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