The UK is launching a search for antivirals to treat COVID-19 in order to have at least two effective home treatments by the end of the year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday.
Johnson welcomed the advent of COVID-19 vaccines and regular testing as the keys to restoring normalcy by the summer, but his government is also supporting therapeutic research to help fight the pandemic.
“Our new antiviral working group will be looking to develop innovative treatments that you can take home to stop COVID-19 from happening,” Johnson said.
They could provide another vital defense against any future growth of infections and could save more lives.
The government hopes that new treatments could be taken home after a positive test or exposure to coronavirus to reduce transmission and speed recovery and will continue to support a range of therapies already available.
Research by British scientists has shown that both the steroid dexamethasone and tocilizumab, a drug for arthritis developed by Roche (ROG.S), have reduced the risk of death in patients with severe COVID-19. Read more
Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said antivirals in tablet form could help protect people who may not have vaccines and could be a defense against new variants of coronavirus.
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