NIAID: There is urgent need for COVID-19 treatments for early infection cases

A new article released this week from Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and colleagues, laid out a clear call for COVID-19 treatments dedicated to cases of early infection, for their potential to speed recovery and bolster the healthcare system.

Concerns about additional waves of COVID-19 infections threaten to overwhelm the healthcare system in many areas. The writers in the JAMA Viewpoint article noted that early treatment of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — could reduce the likelihood of developing severe enough outcomes to require hospitalization. After all, COVID-19 is a disease that often starts with mild symptoms and soon progresses to severe cases.

Given the lengthy recoveries and long-lasting fatigue, mental impairment, and heart/lung problems that can result, the impact on individuals — and the larger system — can also be staggering.

The article acted as a call to action to the medical community and public, searching for support and highlighting needs. While studies are underway to assess existing antivirals’ potential to be repurposed for early treatment, a need for more drugs and treatment candidates remains. Investigators are currently looking into the potential for convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies as early treatments and for possibilities offered by delivery routes other than intravenous infusion.

For this to work, though, authors stress that any candidates put forward will need to be easily utilized and made widely available at low cost.