Britain is looking for antivirals to treat COVID-19 with the goal of having at least two effective treatments at home by the end of the year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday.
Johnson has hailed the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines and regular testing as the keys to restoring normalcy by summer, but his administration is also supporting research into therapies to help fight the pandemic.
“Our new Antiviral Task Force will try to develop innovative treatments that you can use at home to stop COVID-19,” said Johnson.
“These could provide another vital defense against a future increase in infections and save more lives.”
The government hopes that new treatments can be taken at home after a positive test or exposure to the coronavirus to reduce transmission and speed recovery, and they would further enhance a range of therapies already available.
Research by British scientists has shown that both steroid dexamethasone and tocilizumab, an arthritis drug developed by Roche (ROG.S), reduced the risk of death in patients with severe COVID-19. read more
Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific advisor, said tablet antivirals can help protect people who cannot receive vaccines and act as a layer of defense in the face of new coronavirus variants of concern.
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