New and Approved Drugs Against SARS-CoV-2
This snappy video describes a project from our friends at Harvard Medical School are searching for drugs that may be effective against SARS-CoV-2. They use incredibly high-tech methods, like tiny organs-on-chips to select drugs. An organ on a chip is a slice of human cells, growing on top of a chip. For instance, a layer of nasal mucosa growing on a layer of nutritious gel attached to a chip. They are pretty big; you can hold one in your fingers.
It’s too early to tell what they’ll find, but if their science is as good as their graphics, it won’t be long.
New Drugs in Clinical Trials
It is only too clear we need to do something to control the covid-19 pandemic. Generally, the earlier you can provide a treatment, the more effective you will be at preventing or curing the disease. Vaccines are the classic success stories.
Friend-of-the-blog Tony Fauci recently published an important article in the Journal of the American Medical Association supporting Operation Warp Speed to hurry development of the drugs already in the pipeline.
“Outpatient treatments for COVID-19, coupled with an effective vaccine, would have significant implications for the ability to end this pandemic.”
The best drugs will be safe, cheap, can be easily taken by mouth or inhaled in an aerosol, and can be manufactured quickly.
These drugs can prevent hospitalizations, speed cure, and may prevent the long-term cardiac and other complications that leave some people ill for months.
We've Got Several Useful Drugs Now
Remdesivir is definitely effective against early SARS-CoV-2. It must be given intravenously. Dexamethisone is highly effective against the cytokine storm that is so often fatal late in disease. And it is cheap to make and buy.
The FDA recently granted an emergency-use authorization to Eli Lilly for it’s monoclonal antibody drug, bamlanivimab. The drug is currently scarce and must be given as an intravenous infection. The antibodies are directed against the SAR-CoV-2 virus. There are similar treatments out there.
Unfairness in the US Health Care System
The effective antibody drugs are currently available only to high government officials, like Rudy Giuliani, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, billionaires, and celebrities.
When 3,000 Americans are dying from covid-19 every day, it is unfair to prioritize treatment according to political and financial power, rather than to accepted medical ethics.
Musical Spine Surgeon Elvis Francois Brings Relief
Dr. Francois is an orthopedic resident at the Mayo Clinic. His mother planned to name him Gregory, but had a dream about Elvis Presley the night before he was delivered.
Next post will be about the new drugs.
