Recent trials of colchicine, a commonplace drug used to treat gout, warrant larger studies to confirm the drug’s efficacy against some of the worst outcomes from COVID-19, researchers found.
A clinical trial of around 4,500 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients followed an earlier study of the drug’s effects on hospitalized patients. The drug, known for anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, has been seen as a potential defense against the “cytokine storm” immune response associated with some severe cases of the disease.
The “storm” can include symptoms ranging from mild fatigue to life-threatening pneumonia and organ failure. According to the initial non-peer reviewed study, the latest trial found that colchicine reduced deaths by 44% and hospitalizations by 25%. Researchers said colchicine could be useful as an effective oral medication for non-hospitalized patients with the virus.