COVID-19

Researchers Find A Drug To Treat COVID-19 Pneumonia: Lancet Report

By
OB Bureau

London: In what will be a relief and welcome news for those hospitalised with COVID-19 pneumonia, a drug has been identified that can be potentially used to treat such patients, according to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.

‘Namilumab’ was tested by researchers from Birmingham University and University of Oxford in patients who had to be hospitalised to treat COVID-19 pneumonia.

“Our research has provided important proof-of-concept evidence that namilumab reduces inflammation in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia,” said Ben Fisher, co-chief investigator of the trial at Birmingham University and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).

He added that further studies are required as the sample size is too small for a definitive assessment of clinical outcomes.

The trial involved 54 COVID-19 pneumonia patients who were receiving ‘usual’ treatment in a ward or ICU at nine hospitals in the UK with steroids and oxygen or ventilation, and 57 patients who were given usual care and also a single intravenous dose of 150 mg namilumab.

The researchers found a 97 per cent probability of CRP level being reduced over time in patients who were given namilumab compared to those under usual care only.

On monitoring the patients over 28 days, the study revealed fewer deaths and more discharges from hospital or ICU in those who had been given namilumab compared to those receiving usual care alone.

By the 28th day, 78 per cent of patients receiving namilumab were discharged from hospital, compared to 61 per cent given usual care.

Of those given namilumab, 11 per cent patients died while 19 per cent passed away among usual care group.

Namilumab is an antibody in late-stage trials to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers felt namilumab should now be prioritised for further COVID-19 research in a larger phase 3 clinical trial.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Another Stone Falls From Jagannath Temple At Khallikote In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: A stone weighing 2 kg fell from the ‘Singhadwara Gumuta’ of the Lord Jagannath…

November 14, 2024

Sunita Williams Dismisses Rumours About Weight Loss, Explains Her ‘Sunken Cheeks’

New Delhi: Recent pictures of Space Station Commander Sunita Williams from the International Space Station…

November 14, 2024

Payal Rohatgi Calls Out Rupali Ganguly For Dating A Married Man

Mumbai: Actress Rupali Ganguly recently filed a Rs 50 crore defamation case against her stepdaughter…

November 14, 2024

National Hockey: Odisha To Clash With Manipur In Semifinals

Chennai: Odisha will face Manipur in the semifinals of the 14th Hockey India Senior Men’s…

November 14, 2024

India To Push Canada For Extradition Of Arrested Khalistani Terrorist Arsh Dalla

New Delhi: India will again ask Canada for the extradition of designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh…

November 14, 2024

School Dropout From West Bengal Arrested For Practising As Ayurvedic Doctor In Odisha’s Berhampur

Berhampur: Police have arrested a man from West Bengal for allegedly claiming himself to be…

November 14, 2024

Manoj Bajpayee Recalls Staying In ‘Hell’, Experiencing Starvation

Mumbai: Carving a niche for himself in Bollywood was not a cakewalk for ‘The Family…

November 14, 2024

After Disapproving Of Ranveer, Mukesh Khanna Rejects Tiger Shroff For ‘Shakitmaan’

Mumbai: Mukesh Khanna’s Indian superhero series ‘Shaktimaan’ has been making headlines for quite some time…

November 14, 2024