Results of a small Hong Kong trial indicated that a combination of three antivirals helped alleviate symptoms in people with mild to moderate cases of Covid-19, and quickly reduced the amount of the virus in their bodies.
That trial, which included 12 patients, compared between those who were given the combination lupinavir / ritonavir medication used to treat HIV, ribavirin used to treat hepatitis, the interferon beta drug used to treat multiple sclerosis, and a control group that was given a drug HIV only.
The results were published in the Lancet medical journal, and showed that people who obtained the combined drug reached the point of not detecting the virus in their bodies five days before the participants in the control group, that is, seven days versus 12 days.
"Our experience shows that the initial treatment for Covid-19 cases, which ranged from mild to medium with antiviral drugs, may accelerate the suppression of the virus in the patient's body, reduce symptoms, and reduce the risk to Health care workers.
He added that reducing the risk to health workers will be due to the effect of this triple combination on "viral screening" that occurs when the virus can be discovered and the possibility of transmission.