Here are the potential Coronavirus treatments that India and other countries are banking on

• As of now, there is no sureshot proven treatment available to treat novel Coronavirus. The virus has already infected over 5,000 people in India and killed almost 150.
  
• Based on the existing evidence and lab tests on human cells, experts have come up with drugs, but there is no clinical evidence as to which of these drugs can treat Coronavirus effectively.
  
• India seems to be banking on the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine.
  
• Coronavirus infections can be cured from the blood plasma of those who have recovered as it can boost the immune system, as per recent research.

The world is waiting with bated breath for a vaccine for Covid-19. In the meanwhile, Indian and other doctors are working with a variety of Coronavirus treatments to help cure those who have been infected. As of now, around 8.5% of Indians infected have been cured, the number of which stands at 149 as opposed to over 5,000 infected.

Even as researchers are conducting extensive experiments to come up with a potential drug that can cure Coronavirus, as of now doctors are using existing drugs which are known to be effective against viral infections in general.

Based on evidence and lab tests on human cells, experts came up with drugs that can cure virals and other respiratory diseases. However, there is no clinical evidence as to which of these drugs can treat Coronavirus in particular.

Convalescent Plasma treatment

China has been using plasma treatment. According to a few experts, Coronavirus can be cured using the blood plasma of those who have recovered. It can help boost the immune system of the infected. Since those cured already have antibodies that drove the virus away, they can be used to do the same for another patient.

A recent research published in Journal of the American Medical Association and PNAS has shown that a single dose of donor blood plasma can be helpful in treating up to 10 patients who are severely ill. It said that the method can control the symptoms, improve oxygen levels and accelerate recovery.

HIV drug Kaletra

The HIV drug Kaletra is a combination of two antiviral medicines — Lopinavir and Ritonavir. It is also suspected to be a potential cure for Coronavirus. According to a research published in New England Journal of Medicine, the medicine has shown positive results in reducing the amount of virus and also trimmed the hospital or isolation time.

Kaletra is one of the many drugs that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is conducting trials on as it races to find a cure.

Malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine


India has been banking on the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine. The US too is using it in combination with the antibiotic — azithromycin.

"Hydroxy-chloroquine is found to be effective against Coronavirus in laboratory studies and in-vivo studies. Its use in prophylaxis is derived from the available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by preclinical data," IANS reported citing the advisory by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Though it is effective against viral infections in general, scientists are still unsure of its effect on Covid-19. Researchers found that it could stop viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells.

The drug however is strictly prohibited for those below 15 years and above 60 years due to possible side-effects on kidney and heart.

Ebola drug Remdesivir

According to WHO, Ebola drug Remdesivir is the most promising of all the COVID 19 drugs that are in trials. Studies say that the drug is effective on people with mild symptoms, at very initial stages.

California-based biotechnology company Gilead Sciences produced 1.5 million doses of it to facilitate the clinical trials, IANS reported.

Antibiotics and paracetamol

Paracetamol is a popular painkiller. The medicine is said to treat the symptoms of Covid-19 like fever, not the disease altogether. However, the misconception around the same led to many medical stores falling short of the supply of Paracetamol.

Vaccine in the works...

It will take at least 12 to 18 months to prepare a vaccine to treat Coronavirus, as per Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. This is because the vaccines have to undergo several clinical trials to be proven safe.

Researchers say that scientists need an antigen in the vaccine to stimulate the immune system and treat the virus.

See also:
The US is banking on India’s Hydroxychloroquine medicine — yet experts have their doubts

India lifted its ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine - Trump's unproven coronavirus 'cure' - hours after the president threatened 'retaliation' if it didn't do so