This cheap, oral anti-inflammatory drug can reduce COVID severity

An inexpensive, readily available oral anti-inflammatory drug can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death for some patients with COVID-19, according to a study.

Toronto: An inexpensive, readily available oral anti-inflammatory drug can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death for some patients with COVID-19, according to a study. Colchicine, which is currently prescribed to treat gout, familial Mediterranean fever and pericarditis, could be considered as a treatment for those at risk of complications, revealed the findings published in the science journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. "Given the current pandemic, while awaiting collective immunity through vaccination around the world, the need for treatments to prevent COVID-19 complications among patients who contract the disease remains," said Jean-Claude Tardif, Director of the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) Research Centre.