Flu, anti-malaria, arthritis and HIV drugs ‘showing promise’ in fight against corona virus

Experts say that flu, anti-malaria, arthritis, and HIV drugs have all shown “promise” in treating the new illness.
Last month, the UK government’s medicines regulator banned companies from exporting three drugs for HIV and malaria to protect UK stock.
It came as medics in China said they have been using the medicines in experimental treatments - raising hopes that Britain may do the same.
So far, there is no treatment and the NHS says the best way to relieve mild symptoms is to rest at home, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol.

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It comes as the NHS faces growing pressure to tackle the new disease, which has so far killed 108 people in the UK and infected more than 2,600.
Here we look at some of the drugs experts have been trialing in combatting the disease…
[SIZE=6]Flu drug[/SIZE]
Health officials in China say an active ingredient in flu drug Avigan, also known as Favipiravir, had shown promising results in clinical trials in those with Covid-19.
Zhang Xinmin, an official at China’s science and technology ministry, said the drug was given to 340 patients in Wuhan and Shenzhen.

He told a press conference that Favipiravir had helped them recover, with no obvious side-effects.
It’s thought the active ingredient blocks the virus from replicating in the body.
Patients who were given the medicine had negative results for the new coronavirus for an average of four days after being diagnosed - meaning there were no traces of the virus in their body.
This compared with 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug, local media reported.
The drug isn’t used by the NHS and is manufactured by a subsidiary of camera firm Fujifilm in Japan.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11206632/flu-malaria-arthritis-hiv-drugs-coronavirus/