Scientists are currently testing the benefits of ibuprofen in the treatment of Covid-19 in three London hospitals. The team, consisting of specialists from Guy’s Hospital, St. Thomas Hospital and King’s College, is trying to find out whether the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving active ingredient can alleviate breathing problems in patients, according to the BBC.
The test series is called Liberate. Half of the patients will receive ibuprofen in addition to the standard treatment. Ibuprofen is used in a special composition that is different from that in the tablets that are available in pharmacies.
No deterioration from Covid-19
In animal experiments, the effectiveness of ibuprofen against the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been suggested. This severe respiratory distress syndrome occurs in some people with Covid 19 and can lead to death. Experts suspect a similar effectiveness in humans. The test series in the London hospitals is now to clarify whether this is actually the case.
At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, reports had caused a stir that ibuprofen worsened Covid-19 disease. Scientific evidence for this could not be found. „There is currently no reason for patients taking ibuprofen to stop their treatment,“ says the website of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Security (AGES).
South Korea approves use of Remdesivir drug
Meanwhile, South Korea is also following suit in the United States and Japan after approval of the drug Remdesivir for coronavirus infected people. The government in Seoul today issued an emergency permit and now wants to speed up imports of the drug. The government announced that this should be done in cooperation with the manufacturer Gilead Science.
The urgency approval was preceded by an investigation confirming the positive effect of remdesivir in corona patients. Previously, a study by the US Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease had shown that remdesivir accelerated healing.
At the beginning of the pandemic, South Korea was one of the countries most affected by the spread of the coronavirus in Asia. It quickly got the spread under control through a traceability, testing and treatment program. Nevertheless, 800 patients are still under treatment or under observation. The authorities have so far reported 11,590 infections and 273 deaths.
