Three new drugs for COVID-19

Now that tocilizumab is running out of stock in our pharma­ceutical outlets, it is quite exhilarating that doctors from the World Health Organization (WHO) have finally approved three drugs—artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab—for clinical trials in the United States for COVID-19 patients, especially those who are in serious and critical condition and connected to respirators and ventilators.

Like tocilizumab, these three drugs also have highly anti-inflammatory properties or functions targeting small arteries or arterioles that supply the brain, heart, kidneys, and principally the lungs. Artesunate is for the treat­ment of malaria, imatinib is for certain types of malignancy, and infliximab improves the immune system. l sincerely hope the Department of Health (DOH) will communicate with the WHO on where to buy these alternative drugs.

With regard to another drug, dexamethasone, a very powerful anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that is locally available, some anecdotal reports talk of patients having been cured by it through IV infusion. Maybe the DOH should have clinical trials on dexamethasone rather than ivermectin, which it said has no value in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Eliseo R. Reblando, former consultant Subic Water Clinic, SBMA