Capitol Hill Blue Forums Science and Technology Health, Medicine & the healing Sciences Medications that might help against SARS-CoV-2

A couple of interesting papers came out in the last few days. One reported on ICU patients given anakinra, an interleukin 1 blocker. They had much better survival than patients not given it. Interleukin 1 is a strong contributor toward cytokine storm. The other paper reported on tocilizumab, an interleukin 6 blocker. Again, much better survival. Interleukin 6 is another signalling component of cytokine storm. The good thing is these are both useful treatments for seriously ill patients. The interesting thing is they are both prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, like hydroxychloroquine! Small world, isn't it?

The MATH+ Protocol has actually added both to their Salvage Treatments section. This for the patients still declining when their full protocol has been used. These guys are right on top of new information coming out.

Another paper from France looked at over three thousand patients, some of whom received very early HCQ and azithromycin, versus others that did not. I did not track down the actual paper, but they did mention declining blood zinc values. Very significant benefit with the HCQ. But of course HCQ is kryptonite now, so nobody in American will pay any attention.

Here’s a public service announcement that I ran across yesterday:

Here's something I came across:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/27/heal...baum-drug-review-scn-wellness/index.html

https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2020/3/covid-19-vaccine-tracker

Moderna is just about to start Phase III.

Using anti-inflammatory drugs against Covid-19 is tricky: You don't want to give them too soon, when the immune system is still killing virus. You don't want to give them too late, when the storm has done a lot of damage. There are even cases where the victim has no infection symptoms, but then a few weeks later is very sick or dead from the autoimmune response.

Just like antivirals: They only work while the virus is replicating. Wait too long, and that phase is already done. Then the drug does no good.

Apparently the Chinese are going to use their army to start their phase III tests (and may have actually started with this). I think I read someplace that China has promised to give their vaccine away if it works. They have an army of 2.8 million to test with.

Using their army for phase III testing is perfectly reasonable in a society like communist China. They are there to serve the state, with their lives if necessary, and the state's biggest need at the moment is subjects for a phase III trial.

Doctors wouldn't consider it ethical in the West, but in our armed forces people get "volunteered" for hazardous stuff all the time. And it's probably not very hazardous, since they already finished phase II. I bet contracting Covid-19 is a lot more hazardous.

Apparently the Chinese have also installed testing in Brazil as well (no shortage of infected there). I think that the Oxford people have also taken their vaccine phase 3 to Brazil as well.

I don't know how long they have been there with their tests but it doesn't seem to have reduced the Brazil disaster in any significant way - yet...........

more links:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/chinas-covid-19-complex-to-produce-over-100m-vaccine/1898377

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/02/...er-inovio-astrazeneca-roundup/index.html

https://www.popsci.com/story/health/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-development/

https://www.click2houston.com/news/...treatment-trials-in-hapening-in-houston/

Brazil seems to be a terrific resource for vaccine developers. Ideally, you would test the effectiveness of a vaccine in Phase three by challenging the vaccinated with the virus, but that would be unethical (if not criminal). Some groups have done that with monkeys and proved their vaccines work.

Just run your Phase III trial in Brazil and the challenge happens automatically.