Here's how in the US they are treating Donald Trump for Covid-19

Hospitalized for Covid-19, the US president is following an experimental therapy with monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir, cortisone and various supplements

(photo: Getty Images) All the president's care. Donald Trump, positive for coronavirus, feverish and with difficulty breathing, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where his medical staff has arranged a series of treatments that - according to the White House - has already given good results. But what therapies exactly is The Donald receiving?

Monoclonal antibodies

As stated by the president's doctor, Trump was given a cocktail of experimental monoclonal antibodies, manufactured by the Regeneron company.

George Yancopoulos of Regeneron explains to Science Magazine that those received by the president are an antibody of human origin (isolated from a patient cured of Covid-19 and reproduced in the laboratory) and one produced by mice modified to have an immune system human. They are directed against virus proteins that allow them to bind to the host cells' Ace-2 receptors. 1 and 2. The company, in fact, has just published the first data, which demonstrate that monoclonal antibodies are safe (no serious side effects have been observed) and that they have some efficacy, especially on asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic patients in symptoms such as resolution of symptoms and viral load abatement occur earlier than in patients in the control arm of the trial (those who received a placebo). The action appears to be maximized by the absence of antibodies against Sars-Cov-2 produced by the patient himself.

Whether the treatment can have an effect on severe forms of Covid-19, however, has not yet been clarified. Trials are still ongoing.

pic.twitter.com/0Bm9W2u1x7

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2020



The dose of monoclonal antibodies received by Trump is equal to 8 grams, which is not the same used in the trial just published, equal to 2.4 grams. The company reports that it has tested both doses to ascertain their safety, but has continued with the lower one because with the same efficacy it gives an advantage in terms of production and costs. In fact, monoclonals are difficult to produce and have a high cost: the less you need to have an effect, the more people will be able to receive them. Why Trump's doctors decided to administer the maximum dose should be asked of them, says Yancopoulos. It is possible that in greater quantities the effect is greater and prolonged over time. "If I had to treat only one patient, too, I would choose the higher dose. Looking at it from a social point of view, to treat as many people as possible, instead, I would give the lowest effective dose ".

It should be added that President Trump has not joined a trial but his doctors have requested the compassionate use, a (absolutely legitimate) way granted by the FDA to quickly access experimental treatment in exceptional cases.

Remdesivir

In addition to the cocktail of experimental monoclonal antibodies, President Trump is Remdesivir was also administered, the antiviral developed by Gilead Sciences which, although still a subject of debate, is considered one of the few effective drugs against Sars-Cov-2 infection. The drug inhibits a viral enzyme that serves the pathogen to replicate. The antiviral cycle could have a synergistic effect with monoclonal antibodies.

Various and possible

It is not known whether President Trump was taking other prevention products (for example the much-sponsored hydroxychloroquine ). Doctors report they are also administering zinc, vitamin D, famotidine (a drug typically used for stomach acid, the effects of which for Covid-19 have yet to be proven), melatonin and aspirin.

In following the car ride in favor of his supporters (remember that the US is in the middle of the election campaign), it seems that Trump's oxygen levels have dropped and that also for this reason it was necessary to administer cortisone to the president. br> As the New York Times also reports, however, the official communiques give the president a constant improvement. So much so that he could be discharged soon.