Vietnamese scientists are studying treatment for COVID-19 infected patients (Photo: vietnamnet.vn)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese scientists willtest the effectiveness and safety of using HIV/AIDS medication to treat thoseinfected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The scientific project approved earlier this week by Minister of Science and Technology Chu NgocAnh under the recommendation of the Ministry of Health will test the drugslopinavir and ritonavir.
The project will be carried out by the National Hospital ofTropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City’s Hospital of Tropical Diseases, HCM CityPasteur Institute, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and thePharmacovigilance Centre.
Lopinavir and ritonavir are antiretroviral drugs used asmedication to treat HIV/AIDS.
The scientists will evaluate the clinical and sub-clinicaleffectiveness, virological response and safety of lopinavir and ritonavircombination treatment for COVID-19 infected patients based on the HealthMinistry’s background treatment regimen.
The evaluation would be completed within 12 months.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Science and Technologyalso approved a list of three urgent tasks for preventing the coronavirus fromspreading.
The tasks included manufacturing three kinds of test kits ofclassifying and diagnosing COVID-19 infections within a month.
The Military Medical University and Viet A Technology StockCompany were assigned to study and manufacture test kits to detect the virus.
Researching and producing a rapid detection system to screenfor COVID-19 was carried out by Phu Sa Biochemistry Company, HCM City’s PasteurInstitute, and Can Tho city’s Scientific and Technological Application Centre.
The HCM City’s Pasteur Institute was designated to studyepidemiological and clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 caused acuterespiratory infections in Vietnam./.
VNA
