Where is the Discovery trial? This large-scale clinical trial, launched on March 22 and coordinated by Inserm, aims to test four potential treatments against the coronavirus. 3,200 patients in Europe, at least 800 of whom are French, are participating in the operation, which was a little late. Doctor and columnist of Europe 1, doctor Jimmy Mohamed explains to us why.
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The study has five treatment groups. "The first is a conventional group, treated as usual. The second tests an antiviral treatment against Ebola, remdesivir. The third tests Kaletra, used against HIV. The fourth relates to Kaletra associated with an anti-TNF, a form of immunosuppressant ", details Jimmy Mohamed. Finally, the fifth group concerns hydroxychloroquine, the effects of which are praised by Doctor Didier Raoult.
"It was difficult to include patients"
But why are the results still not known? "It was very complicated to include patients", explains Jimmy Mohamed, because, with the frenzy around hydroxychloroquine, "all the patients wanted to be in the group treated with chloroquine, and no longer wanted to be with the others treatments ".
In addition, continues the specialist, the coronavirus "evolves rather slowly, with a first phase and a secondary aggravation which lasts a fortnight. We must wait until each patient has reached this peak". Finally, the study contains a great deal of data.
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The end of the test was planned for the end of April, recalls Jimmy Mohamed, and is therefore a little late. At the microphone of Europe 1, the doctor specifies that the study is adaptive. "If you realize that a drug is not working during treatment, you abandon it and move on."