NIH to start ‘flurry’ of large studies of potential Covid-19 treatments

In an interview, NIH Director Francis Collins characterized the studies as “really well-powered, rigorously designed clinical trials.” Among the trials, he said: studies of antiviral monoclonal antibodies to treat Covid-19 in both hospitalized patients and patients who can be treated at home; studies of drugs to quell overreaction of the immune system that the agency has picked from dozens of approved treatments; and studies of blood thinners in very sick Covid-19 patients to prevent problems caused by blood clots. Those treatment studies will be on top of the work that the NIH is also doing on vaccines, including the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Moderna Therapeutics. STAT