So far, there is no vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Drugs that help with the lung disease caused by the virus have also not yet been researched. There are approaches to treatment options.
Doctors have some hope for an anti-virus drug that is used against Ebola infections, among other things. The active ingredient remdesivir is to be tested in March in almost 1,000 patients in Asia and other countries who are moderately or severely affected by the coronavirus. This was announced by the US company Gilead Sciences. You want to test the effectiveness of the agent against the virus.
When fighting Covid-19 – the name of the disease caused by the virus – other potentially effective drugs have also been mentioned. A few weeks ago there was a message from Thailand that a combination of flu and HIV drugs had helped a patient. The woman was given the flu drug oseltamivir and the two HIV active ingredients lopinavir and ritonavir by the doctors. The patient was no longer able to detect the virus 48 hours after treatment, it said. From China there was also a message that a malaria drug against the coronavirus could help. Apparently the active ingredient chloroquine has proven to be effective in patients in China.
Seehofer hopes to get vaccine by the turn of the year
Federal Interior Minister Seehofer expects that a vaccine will be available by the end of the year. Until then, the disease had to be combated using the classic methods of disease protection. Professor Gérard Krause from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research warns of high expectations. It takes time before drugs are developed and used, he said on Deutschlandfunk. Despite individual successes, it could not be concluded that this would also work for other patients.
Development of a vaccine is in full swing
The biochemist Klaus Cichutek from the Paul Ehrlich Institute said on Deutschlandfunk that the development of a vaccine is in full swing. Two German companies are also involved with promising concepts. You benefit from years of preparatory work and now hope to reach your goal relatively quickly. Phase 1 clinical trials can begin this year, according to Cichutek. The rough tolerance is checked in 20 to 100 subjects. Official admission is not expected within the coming year. Larger patient studies are pending, according to the biochemist.
Further articles on the corona virus and its effects
We report on the current numbers of coronavirus infected, recovered and deaths in our article: How the Coronavirus Spreads in Europe.
We have also launched a news blog. Given the large amount of information, it provides an overview of the most important developments.
How big is the danger in this country? What strategies are the authorities pursuing? What can everyone do to protect themselves? We provide answers to these and other questions in our article: Germany and the Corona Virus – answers to the most important questions.
Comprehensive school and daycare closures are becoming more and more likely in Germany due to the spread of the corona virus. Lack of childcare could be one of the consequences. You can find an overview of the most important questions in our play: How the Corona Virus Affects Schools, Universities and Day Care Centers in Germany.
So far, there is no vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Drugs that help with the lung disease caused by the virus have also not yet been researched. There are approaches to treatment options. We explain what these are in our article: Approaches to drugs against the coronavirus.
A lot of information is currently circulating on the subject of respiratory masks. Which masks are available, who really needs them and why the EU criticizes a German export ban, we answer in the article: What you should know about respiratory masks.
What exponential growth means for the spread of the coronavirus, how the German health system is prepared for Covid 19 cases, what helps to slow the spread of the coronavirus and when the situation can be expected to relax: We answer these questions in our article : Hygiene, quarantine, ghost games: why the measures against the coronavirus are so important.
Because of the corona virus, many major events are canceled worldwide. How does Germany deal with it – for example with trade fairs and Bundesliga games? We provide answers to important questions in our play: Corona virus: How does Germany deal with major events?
Numerous events in sports were canceled or postponed. You can read an overview here: How the corona virus affects international sport – cancellations, postponements, failures.
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