06-24-2021, 11:06 AM
Ministry of Health Malaysia starts Ivermectin trial for high risk COVID-19 patients (I-TECH Study)
Effective pharmacologic treatments for COVID-19 remains a challenge. The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial showed dexamethasone, a steroid, improved mortality outcomes for COVID-19 patients in severe stage of disease when oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilation is required. But for the management of mild and moderate cases, there is lack of treatment, either to prevent disease progression or cut viral transmission.
The COVID-19 clinical characterisation study by MOH specialists and researchers found that for cases admitted to hospitals, 95% had mild illness but about 3.5% subsequently progressed to severe disease. They were mostly of older age (≥51 years) or had underlying co-morbidities such as chronic kidney disease and chronic pulmonary disease that increased their risk for severe disease. However, for high-risk COVID-19 patients, many repurposed antiviral therapies were found ineffective. The World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Solidarity Trial for COVID-19 Treatments (SOLIDARITY) which included Malaysia, found insufficient evidence for the use of remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, interferon, lopinavir in terms of mortality outcomes. Currently, the Malaysian Consensus Management Guidelines for COVID-19 maintains Favipiravir, as the only antiviral therapy for the management of COVID-19 cases. Even this recommendation may change as more evidence becomes available.
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Effective pharmacologic treatments for COVID-19 remains a challenge. The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial showed dexamethasone, a steroid, improved mortality outcomes for COVID-19 patients in severe stage of disease when oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilation is required. But for the management of mild and moderate cases, there is lack of treatment, either to prevent disease progression or cut viral transmission.
The COVID-19 clinical characterisation study by MOH specialists and researchers found that for cases admitted to hospitals, 95% had mild illness but about 3.5% subsequently progressed to severe disease. They were mostly of older age (≥51 years) or had underlying co-morbidities such as chronic kidney disease and chronic pulmonary disease that increased their risk for severe disease. However, for high-risk COVID-19 patients, many repurposed antiviral therapies were found ineffective. The World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Solidarity Trial for COVID-19 Treatments (SOLIDARITY) which included Malaysia, found insufficient evidence for the use of remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, interferon, lopinavir in terms of mortality outcomes. Currently, the Malaysian Consensus Management Guidelines for COVID-19 maintains Favipiravir, as the only antiviral therapy for the management of COVID-19 cases. Even this recommendation may change as more evidence becomes available.
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