BS RAWAT
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that interim results of ‘WHO Solidarity Trial’ indicate that four repurposed drugs for Covid-19 --remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens --appeared to have little or no effect on reducing mortality, initiation of ventilation and duration of hospital stay.

The ICMR has conducted this large randomised controlled study even during a pandemic situation and earlier lockdown. The study reliably answers critical public health questions concerning therapeutics.

"Earlier, ICMR conducted PLACID trial for convalescent plasma indicating no benefit of it in Covid-19 treatment," the apex health research body said in a statement.

The ICMR claimed that it was a well-coordinated national effort led by ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune, with scientist Sheela Godbole at the helm.

“The trial includes 26 actively randomising sites with 937 participants in the country. We are grateful to the trial participants and their families for contributing to these crucial findings,” said Dr Samiran Panda, Director, ICMR-NARI.

The trial is the world’s largest global randomised controlled trial in a pandemic situation for Covid-19 therapeutics, spanning 30 countries. India contributed one-tenth of the participants in the trial, the statement added.