The TF agrees on COVID-19 treatment, 2 tabs of Kaletra BID

The central clinical TF agrees on treatment principles, considering Hydroxychloroquine instead of Chloroquine

Although the development of 'COVID-19' treatment has not been completed, the principle has been established that the treatment can be considered by administering two tablets of Abbvie’s Kaletra twice a day.

 

Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, is also considered, but not domestically distributed.

 

Instead, Hydroxychloroquine, which is used as a drug for autoimmune diseases, may be considered.

 

The National Medical Center held the 6th video conference with the COVID-19 Central Clinical TF, which consists of medical staff and experts in the COVID-19 confirmed patients care hospital nationwide, and agreed on the treatment principles on the 12th.

 

According to the TF, there are currently no treatments for COVID-19 that have proven effective in humans.

 

Therefore, the agreement is the most important clinical decision of the attending physician for the decision of antiviral treatment, the selection of treatment, and the duration of treatment.

 

However, the summary of the agreement is based on the scientific literature published and the experience of TF team members, and is an important reference for treatment.

 

According to the agreement of the TF, if the symptoms of young and healthy patients without the underlying disease are relatively mild, they can be observed without antiviral treatment.

 

In particular, if more than 10 days after onset and symptoms are relatively mild, anti-viral therapy may be less likely.

 

Conversely, antiviral therapy should be considered in patients with old or underlying disease and in patients with relatively severe COVID-19.

 

If the patients are treated with antiviral treatment, it may be theoretically helpful to start dosing as soon as possible.

 

Administration of Kaletra as an antiviral therapy may be considered.

 

The TF can consider two tablets of Kaletra once a day (LPV/ r 400mg/100mg po bid) or Chloroquine 500mg po qd, but Chloroquine is not distributed in Korea, so Hydroxychloroquine 400mg po qd could be considered.

 

It is the TF's judgment that there is no evidence that the combination of Kaletra and Chloroquine (or hydroxychloroquine) is superior to monotherapy.

 

Combination of these drugs can cause serious arrhythmias and drug interactions with increased QT interval (electrocardiogram QRS wave time).

 

Therefore, this combination therapy should be administered carefully in very limited cases.

 

Antiviral treatment, on the other hand, may seem appropriate for 7 to 10 days, but may be shortened or extended depending on the patient's progress at the clinical site.

 

The TF said that Ribavirin, hepatitis C treatment and Interferon, a substance that inhibits viral infection and proliferation in the human body, are not recommended as they have severe side effects, and the use of Ribavirin or Interferon are considered in limited circumstances where Kaletra or Chloroquine(or Hydroxychloroquine) is ineffective or difficult to administer.