COVID-19 Treatments

COVID-19 Treatments

WHO/N. K. Acquah
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As COVID-19 continues to affect people around the world, researchers are racing to develop effective treatments to help save lives, improve the health outcomes for patients and lessen the burden on health systems. 

Several therapeutics have been approved by WHO to help patients, and several others are in the development, testing or review process. Thousands of trials investigating COVID-19 interventions have been registered or are ongoing. WHO, through its COVID-19 Solidarity Therapeutics Trial, is coordinating global efforts to find drugs and other therapies that can save lives for those with severe or critical COVID-19. 

Although health care options for patients with COVID-19 are improving, we must continue to follow public health guidance to prevent the spread of the disease, including wearing properly fitted masks, cleaning our hands, ensuring good ventilation indoors, physically distancing and avoiding crowds. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as it’s your turn is the best way to reduce your risk of contracting the disease or developing severe symptoms.


Recommended treatments

WHO recommends a number of treatments for COVID-19. They should all be given along with current standard care for COVID-19, including oxygen and supportive care.

Medical oxygen has seen accelerated demand since the beginning of the pandemic and is a critical tool in the treatment of COVID-19. WHO works to increase the supply and accessibility of medical oxygen, particularly in the most vulnerable areas, and has so far supplied tens of thousands of concentrators, pulse oximeters and patient monitors to over 120 countries. 


Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone

Corticosteroids work by reducing the overstimulation of the immune system that occurs with severe COVID-19. They are recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19 but should not be given to patients in non-severe cases. These medicines are administered as a pill or injection for a course of 7?10 days.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Corticosteroids, including dexamethasone

Monoclonal antibody therapy

A combination of casirivimab and imdevimab developed by Regeneron is one type of monoclonal antibody therapy. These drugs are antibodies similar to the ones produced by our bodies when we are in contact with the COVID-19 virus, and they respond by blocking the virus’s ability to infect our body’s cells. This therapy is recommended for patients who have non-severe COVID-19 and are at risk of hospitalization, and those with severe or critical COVID-19 who do not have antibodies against the virus. Monoclonal antibody therapy should be administered intravenously by a health care worker in a clinical setting.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Casirivimab and Imdevimab -  monoclonal antibody therapy

IL-6 receptor blockers

Like corticosteroids, IL-6 receptor blockers work by reducing the overstimulation of the immune system seen in patients with severe or critical COVID-19. Tocilizumab and sarilumab, two IL-6 receptor blockers, are currently recommended by WHO for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. They should be administered as soon as the patient is diagnosed through a single dose given intravenously over one hour.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Tocilizumab and sarilumab - Interleukin-6 receptor blockers

Treatments in development

Thousands of trails of potential drugs to treat COVID-19 have been completed, are in progress or are being planned. These are catalogued through COVID-NMA, an international initiative that collates global COVID-19 research to increase the accessibility and transparency of the information. Supported by WHO and other partners, this resource provides a living map of trials and publications to assist researchers and decision makers. 

WHO also operates the Solidarity PLUS trial, which evaluates promising therapies by randomizing their effects on important outcomes. Three initial therapies – artesunate, imatinib and infliximab – were selected for evaluation by an independent expert panel for their potential in reducing the risk of death in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19. The Solidarity trail involves collaboration among hundreds of hospitals in dozens of countries to determine the effectiveness and potential side effects of each treatment.

Currently, WHO is assessing a number of drugs for treating COVID-19. See the pipeline of therapeutics under assessment here.


Treatments that are not recommended

Remdesivir : 

WHO has issued a conditional recommendation against the use of remdesivir for hospitalized patients, regardless of the disease severity, as there is no evidence to suggest that it is an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Lopinavir/ritonavir:

Following WHO’s Solidarity Trial’s findings that lopinavir/ritonavir produced little or no reduction in mortality of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to standard of care, WHO strongly recommends against the use of lopinavir/ritonavir to treat COVID-19.

Hydroxychloroquine:

WHO strongly recommends against the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. Six trials involving more than 6000 participants showed the drug had little or no effect on preventing illness, hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases and malaria, but not COVID-19, and should only be used as and when prescribed by a medical professional.

Ivermectin:

Ivermectin is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent used to treat several parasitic diseases. 

Several trials have been conducted on its effectiveness against COVID-19 but no evidence was found to suggest that the drug reduces the risk of illness, hospitalization, the need for ventilation or death. WHO strongly recommends against using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 except in the context of a clinical trial.

Convalescent plasma:

Convalescent plasma is a transfusion of blood plasma from someone who has recovered from COVID-19. For non-severe COVID-19 patients, WHO recommends against its use, while it should only be used within clinical trials for severe and critical COVID-19 patients.