THE QUESTION.
A "
miracle molecule
", an "
effective drug
" ... The Institut Pasteur de Lille has finally discovered a treatment against Covid-19, as some media reported earlier this week.
While no drug has yet proven its effectiveness (with the exception of a corticosteroid, dexamethasone, for severe cases), this is something to rekindle hope.
But beware of the announcement effects.
What is behind it?
CHECKS.
Let's be clear: researchers at the Institut Pasteur in Lille have not invented a new drug.
They tested treatments already in use for other diseases in the lab, such as hydroxychloroquine, which raised immense hopes, before studies showing its ineffectiveness piled up.
Read also: Covid-19: are we really three or four times more likely to be infected in bars?
A total of 2,000 drugs were tested on different types of human cells infected with Sars-CoV-2.
This approach is called "
repositioning
".
"
The idea is to use
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