A new study published by Henry Ford Health System shows the benefits of hydroxychloroquine for 2,541 coronavirus patients.
Findings showed that early treatment with hydroxychloroquine slashed the death rate massively in Covid-19 patients in hospitals. Taking hydroxychloroquine did not also lead to heart-related side effects.
Published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the study is a milestone in the continuous research on the effectiveness of a drug that appeared promising at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,
The researchers analyzed outcomes of 2,541 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 between March 10 and May 2 across the six hospitals in Michigan. Records show that 18% of the patients died in the hospital.
From the patients who took hydroxychloroquine as part of initial treatment, 13% died, compared with 26% of those who did not take the drug.
Patients who were older than 65, white, and were experiencing already-reduced oxygen levels had manifested the highest level of mortality. They also presented with serious underlying diseases, such as lung disease and chronic kidney.
Dr. Marcus Zervos, head of infectious disease at Henry Ford Health System, noted the differences between Henry Ford’s results and those of other studies.
“There’s variability in the literature on outcomes with hydroxychloroquine ... What we think was important in our study was our patients were treated early. And for hydroxychloroquine to have a benefit, it needs to be given before the patient suffers some of the severe immune reaction that can occur with COVID.”
Zervos explained that hydroxychloroquine works by inhibiting the inflammatory response of the immune system to the virus.
He noted that patients were examined for possible heart issues. The study excluded anyone who was at risk for cardiac abnormalities.
Remdesivir
The study suggests that hydroxychloroquine could be beneficial for treating Covid-19, especially in countries that do not have access to the antiviral drug, remdesivir, which can reduce illness in some patients.
“Many of these countries, they could be low-income settings. They don’t have access to Remdesivir. Remdesivir is going to be expensive. Hydroxychloroquine is inexpensive. So I think the drug does have a role,” Zerovos said.
White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci finds data on remdesivir as a tool for coronavirus treatment “quite good news.”
Dr. Fauci previously told reporters that the data manifested a “clear-cut positive effect in diminishing time to recover.”
Moreover, the top health expert said that the average time of recovery for patients taking remdesivir was 11 days. Those in the placebo group had 15 days. He emphasized that the mortality benefit of remdesivir “has not yet reached statistical significance.”
Meanwhile, Gilead Sciences plans to sell remdesivir $390 per vial to developed countries and $3,120 for a US patient with commercial insurance.
Gilead Sciences’ pricing plans were announced in preparation for it to start charging for the drug in July. The company has been providing doses to the US government for distribution for free since it was granted emergency use authorization in May.
“At the level we have priced remdesivir and with government programs in place, along with additional Gilead assistance as needed, we believe all patients will have access,” Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day said in an open letter.
