WHO Broadens COVID-19 Study to Feature Three Licensed Drugs

Expanding its existing Solidarity trial, the World Health Organization (WHO) will test three additional anti-inflammatory drugs as potential treatments for COVID-19.

Solidarity PLUS will determine whether artesunate, imatinib and infliximab — all of which are already approved for other indications — might reduce the risk of death or hospitalization in patients with the disease, WHO reported. An independent expert panel selected the candidate medications, which will be donated by the manufacturers.

Solidarity PLUS will be conducted in 52 countries and will enroll as many patients as possible. Patients must be at least 18 years old and hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19.