Forbes: Prof Lays Out What the Data Really Shows About Potential Coronavirus Treatments

April 9, 2020

Author
Jay Pfeifer

Dave Wessner, biology professor and interim chair of health and human values, made his debut as a Forbes contributor with a piece evaluating two potential treatments for the coronavirus.

In the world-wide race to treat COVID-19, two drugs鈥攁lready in use to treat other ailments鈥攕eem to offer promise.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely prescribed to patients fighting lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. According to Wessner, 鈥淗CQ鈥檚 ability to modulate the inflammatory response is one reason why it鈥檚 caught the eye of researchers.鈥

Likewise, the antiviral remdesivir may be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 鈥渂ecause it looks very similar to a chemical that viruses need to reproduce.鈥

Wessner explains why scientists are eyeing these drugs but urges proponents to proceed with caution until human trials are complete.

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