<p>Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) showed no antiviral activity in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 in Norway, according to a study published on Tuesday.</p>.<p>While HCQ is used to prevent or treat malaria, Remdesivir is sold as an antiviral drug.</p>.<p>The researchers from Oslo University Hospital and colleagues randomly assigned 181 hospitalised patients in 23 hospitals in Norway to receive Remdesivir, HCQ, or standard of care.</p>.<p>The study, published in the journal <em>Annals of Internal Medicine</em>, evaluated the effects of the two drugs on all-cause, in-hospital mortality, the degree of respiratory failure and inflammation, and viral clearance in the oropharynx.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/government-issues-advisory-for-rational-use-of-remdesivir-in-covid-19-treatment-994866.html" target="_blank">Government issues advisory for rational use of Remdesivir in Covid-19 treatment</a></strong></p>.<p>The 'NOR-Solidarity' study, an independent, add-on, randomised controlled trial to the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity trial, found that neither Remdesivir nor HCQ affected viral clearance in hospitalised patients with Covid-19.</p>.<p>The WHO Solidarity trial had shown no effect of Remdesivir or HCQ on mortality but did not assess antiviral effects of these drugs.</p>.<p>The latest study found no significant differences between treatment groups on mortality during hospitalisation.</p>.<p>The researchers also found that Remdesivir and HCQ did not affect the degree of respiratory failure or inflammation.</p>.<p>There was a significant decrease in SARS-CoV-2 load in the oropharynx during the first week in all treatment groups, with similar decreases in 10-day viral loads. The lack of antiviral effect with remdesivir and HCQ remained consistent despite patient age, symptom duration, degree of viral load, and presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.</p>.<p>The researchers noted that overall mortality in NOR-Solidarity was lower than in the WHO-Solidarity trial.</p>.<p>This could be due to early lockdown policies in Norway during the initial phase of the pandemic, reducing pressure on hospitals and health care systems, the researchers said.</p>.<p>Norway also had lower rates of comorbid conditions such as diabetes and chronic heart disease, they said.</p>.<p>Based on their findings, the researchers question the antiviral potential of remdesivir and HCQ. </p>
<p>Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) showed no antiviral activity in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 in Norway, according to a study published on Tuesday.</p>.<p>While HCQ is used to prevent or treat malaria, Remdesivir is sold as an antiviral drug.</p>.<p>The researchers from Oslo University Hospital and colleagues randomly assigned 181 hospitalised patients in 23 hospitals in Norway to receive Remdesivir, HCQ, or standard of care.</p>.<p>The study, published in the journal <em>Annals of Internal Medicine</em>, evaluated the effects of the two drugs on all-cause, in-hospital mortality, the degree of respiratory failure and inflammation, and viral clearance in the oropharynx.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/government-issues-advisory-for-rational-use-of-remdesivir-in-covid-19-treatment-994866.html" target="_blank">Government issues advisory for rational use of Remdesivir in Covid-19 treatment</a></strong></p>.<p>The 'NOR-Solidarity' study, an independent, add-on, randomised controlled trial to the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity trial, found that neither Remdesivir nor HCQ affected viral clearance in hospitalised patients with Covid-19.</p>.<p>The WHO Solidarity trial had shown no effect of Remdesivir or HCQ on mortality but did not assess antiviral effects of these drugs.</p>.<p>The latest study found no significant differences between treatment groups on mortality during hospitalisation.</p>.<p>The researchers also found that Remdesivir and HCQ did not affect the degree of respiratory failure or inflammation.</p>.<p>There was a significant decrease in SARS-CoV-2 load in the oropharynx during the first week in all treatment groups, with similar decreases in 10-day viral loads. The lack of antiviral effect with remdesivir and HCQ remained consistent despite patient age, symptom duration, degree of viral load, and presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.</p>.<p>The researchers noted that overall mortality in NOR-Solidarity was lower than in the WHO-Solidarity trial.</p>.<p>This could be due to early lockdown policies in Norway during the initial phase of the pandemic, reducing pressure on hospitals and health care systems, the researchers said.</p>.<p>Norway also had lower rates of comorbid conditions such as diabetes and chronic heart disease, they said.</p>.<p>Based on their findings, the researchers question the antiviral potential of remdesivir and HCQ. </p>