The Covid-19 pandemic rapidly spread worldwide, and health providers were fighting it without any weapons. In time, Covid-19 vaccines have been developed, and their high efficiency has helped save many human lives. Doctors and health experts have found several drugs to help those with severe symptoms, such as redemsivir. A new clinical trial found that treating Covid-19 positive patients with interferon beta-1a and redemsivir did not bring better results than using only redemsivir and a placebo.
The clinical trial brought to light several facts about using interferon for Covid-19 patients
The study, Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 3 (ACTT-3), received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the U.S. (NIAID). Experts analyzed for several months if interferon combined with redemsivir was superior to using only redemsivir and a placebo to treat adults suffering from Covid-19 pneumonia.
When a person suffers an infection, the infected cells produce this substance to help the body fight against the virus. The ACTT-3 study concluded that using interferon beta-1a as extra help for patients suffering from Covid-19 pneumonia did not benefit the patients. There were no positive differences between patients who received only redemsivir, and those who received both substances as part of their treatment.
The clinical study used participants from several countries
Researchers collaborated with 969 adults from countries such as the U.S., Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The patients were hospitalized in 63 different medical facilities. It was found that patients with severe Covid-19 who needed high flow oxygen and had received interferon and redemsivir suffered adverse events. This was not the case for those with severe Covid who only received redemsivir as part of their treatment.
The conclusion is that interferon combined with redemsivir does not bring additional benefits to Covid-19 patients, compared to redemsivir alone.
