WHO’s Solidarity Plus Trial to Assess Three Drugs for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) solidarity plus trial, the next phase in its solidarity trial, will enroll hospitalized patients to test artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to an August 11, 2021 press release. Artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab were selected for their potential to reduce the risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients by an independent panel. These three drugs were donated for the trial by their manufacturers and are used for the following other indications:

• Artesunate is used for severe malaria.
• Imatinib is used for certain cancers.
• Infliximab is used for diseases of the immune system, such as Crohn’s Disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Previously, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon were evaluated by the trial and were found to have little or no effect on hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The solidarity plus trial represents the largest global collaboration among WHO Member States and involves thousands of researchers in more than 600 hospitals in 52 countries. Multiple treatments are assessed at the same time using a single protocol. Thousands of patients are recruited to generate robust estimates on the effect a drug may have on mortality.

Source: WHO