BANGKOK, Nov 23 (TNA) – Mahidol University and the University of Oxford announced the world’s first comparative study for COVID-19 drugs.
The Faculty of Tropical Medicine of Mahidol University and the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit held a press conference to announce the research project on COVID-19 drugs which involved many international institutions.
The project was aimed at finding medications to treat COVID-19 and evaluating their effectiveness.
The world’s first comparative study for COVID-19 drugs involves three Thai hospitals namely Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Vajira Hospital and Bangplee Hospital.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Weerapong Phumratanaprapin, dean of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University, said COVID-19 was a new pandemic and officials concerned needed clear information to support treatment.
At present, a few medications could reduce the virus directly and the announced study would cover two oral medications namely favipiravir and ivermectin and two parenteral medications namely remdesivir and Regeneron, he said.
The research project will need 750 volunteers worldwide and the Thai hospitals will recruit about 200 volunteers. (TNA)