Remdesivir & Hydroxychloroquine ineffective in treating COVID-19 patients: WHO & ICMRs Solidarity Trials

16 October 2020, New Delhi: Solidarity Therapeutics Trial, conducted under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO) in which Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is an active partner revealed the following. 

The trial tested four repurposed drugs: Remdesivir, Interferon β1a, Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Hydroxychloroquine. Interim analysis showed that no benefits of Remdesivir in any groups of COVID-19 (asymptomatic /mild / moderate /severe /critical) patients.

ICMR has succeeded in conducting this large randomized controlled study even during a pandemic situation and earlier lockdown. This study reliably answers to critical public health questions concerning therapeutics. Earlier, ICMR conducted PLACID trial for convalescent plasma indicating no benefit of it in COVID treatment.

This was a well-coordinated national effort, led by ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune, with Dr. Sheela Godbole, Scientist F, at the helm. “The trial comprised 26 actively randomizing sites with 937 participants in India. We are grateful to the trial participants and their families for contributing to these crucial findings,” said Dr Samiran Panda, Head, ICMR-Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD), and Director, ICMR-NARI. 

The Solidarity Trial is the world’s largest global randomized controlled trial in a pandemic situation for COVID -19 therapeutics, spanning 30 countries. India contributed one tenth of the participants in the trial.