A European clinical trial was launched this Sunday in at least seven European countries to test four experimental treatments against the coronavirus, which will include a total of 3,200 patients, announced Sunday the French Ministry of Health.
The four treatments tested on a large scale will be the following molecules: remdesivir, lopinavir in combination with ritonavir, the latter treatment being associated or not with interferon beta, and hydroxychloroquine, according to a press release from Inserm, l organization that oversees medical research in France.
"It is planned to include 3,200 European patients including Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, and may be other countries including at least 800 in France, hospitalized for a Covid-19 infection in a medical department or directly in intensive care, ”specifies the French Institute for Medical Research.
"A trial involves patients who are treated in a hospital environment under strict surveillance, and who have access to these molecules to test their effectiveness on the virus and on their clinical course," said Professor Salomon, director General of Health (DGS) in France during a press point. “It is very important to do it quickly and under these conditions. "Baptized Discovery, it notably includes hydroxychloroquine," he confirmed.
Doctor Raoult defends the use of chloroquine
Since the appearance of the new coronavirus in China, Professor Didier Raoult, director of the IHU Méditerranée Infection in Marseille, has defended the use of chloroquine against the disease. He has raised reservations with many other specialists, who believe in particular that the trials he conducted with 24 patients do not meet all the necessary criteria.
"This trial has led to interesting results which are also published today in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents", according to Professor Salomon.
This test will be “adaptive” and “very quickly ineffective experimental treatments can be abandoned and replaced by other molecules which will emerge from research”, underlines in the press release from Inserm Florence Ader, infectiologist at the hospital of the Cross -Rousse at the CHU de Lyon, which will pilot the project.
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Another international clinical trial will be launched "under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO), called + Solidarity +", says Inserm.