Evaluation of Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine on Viral Clearance in COVID-19 Patients: Results from the NOR-Solidarity Randomised Trial

Evidence of the Clinical Efficacy of Antiviral Agents against SARS-CoV-2

“…The WHO's pivotal SOLIDARITY trial (n= 2 743) found that RDV treatment had no real effects on mortality or the course of the disease and did not show overall efficacy [24]. This study, supported by two other smaller studies, including a nor-solidarity trial, provided sufficient evidence to conclude that RDV has little efficacy to offer [22,23]. Some improvement was seen when combining RDV with barcitinab, but this was not convincing [21].…”

“…Eight RCTs, including the WHO's SOLIDARITY trial, involving a total of 4 829 patients, have tested the efficacy of RDV (Table 1). Early studies, [17][18][19][20] showed promising results while later larger trials, [21][22][23][24] disputed these findings. Initial trials indicated that RDV showed potential, most notably in studies conducted by Wang et al and Beigel et al [17,18].…”

COVID-19 in Children: Update on Diagnosis and Management

“…Heart rhythm problems, blood and lymph disorders, kidney injury, and liver problems have been frequently described in patients receiving this drug. [77][78][79][80] Lopinavir and ritonavir are not recommended in children and adolescents with COVID-19, starting from the evidence that several clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any efficacy of this combination in adults and no randomized clinical trials have been performed in children. 81,82 Regarding RDV, it has to be highlighted that, despite some experts not recommending RDV, 83 this drug remains the most widely used antiviral for COVID-19 treatment.…”

“…77 Results of clinical trials, mainly performed with HCQ, have evidenced that it is highly unlikely that this drug can be of dramatic benefit in prophylaxis or therapy of SARS-CoV-2 infection. [78][79][80] On the contrary, it has been evidenced that HCQ has the potential to cause harm, particularly when used in combination with azithromycin or other medications in high-risk individuals with comorbidities. Heart rhythm problems, blood and lymph disorders, kidney injury, and liver problems have been frequently described in patients receiving this drug.…”