As of March 20, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 108 in Taiwan, including one mortality case and 26 cases discharged from hospitals. The remaining cases still receiving treatments are all in a stable condition. Professor Chang Shan-Chwen, the Convenor of the Expert Advisory Team of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), pointed out that new treatments other than the standard supportive therapy have been given to patients. Clinical trials on antiviral drugs are started, too.
Professor Chang stated that many governments have kept updating the treatment guidelines for COVID-19, and are participating in clinical trials of new drugs. The medical team in Taiwan is now trying to treat COVID-19 by using the combination of HIV drugs and interferon. The experts are now evaluating whether to include this treatment into the treatment guidelines.
Studies show that Remdesivir, an investigational antiviral drug developed by a US firm, could be effective in treating COVID-19. Taiwan is participating in this clinical trial. Patients meeting the recruitment criteria could be given the treatment.
On the 18th, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. So far, the virus has infected over 300,000 people and caused many deaths.
The WHO revealed that the first vaccine injection has entered the clinical trial stage. The WHO has called member states to join a large clinical trial project. Ten countries have already enrolled in this project, including Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. Other countries are expecting to follow suit.
The joint clinical trial project includes one controlled group and four treatment groups. Patients in the controlled group will be given the standard treatment, while patients in the treatment groups will be tested on four different new treatments respectively in addition to the standard treatment.
The development of diagnostics has progressed, too. An early diagnostic developed by the Academia Sinica can produce the test result in just 15 minutes. It would be a great help to curb the spread of the virus.
【2020-03-20 / Liberty Times】
