Combating coronavirus: Anti-viral drug trio found to shorten Covid-19 illness in mild cases

Combating coronavirus: Anti-viral drug trio found to shorten Covid-19 illness in mild cases

Authors of the study, published in the Lancet on Friday, described the findings as "early but important".. Researchers in Hong Kong have found that patients suffering milder illness caused by the new coronavirus recover more quickly if they are treated with a three-drug antiviral cocktail soon after symptoms appear.. "Our trial demonstrates that early treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 with a triple combination of antiviral drugs may rapidly suppress the amount of virus in a patient's body," said Kwok-Yung Yuen, professor at the University of Hong Kong, who led the research.. The study tracked the virus in 127 adults admitted to six hospitals in Hong Kong after they tested positive.. Of the participating, 86 patients were given a two-week course of three medicines: interferon beta-1b, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis; HIV drugs lopinavir-ritonavir; and ribavirin, used to treat hepatitis.. A randomly-assigned control group of 41 people was just given the lopinavir-ritonavir combination.. Treatment began on average five days after symptoms started and all patients otherwise received standard care, including oxygen therapy.. Researchers then measured how long it took for a swab test for the virus to turn out negative.. Those on the three-drug regimen also saw a