Top Ten most popular articles on Pharmafile.com this week

The search for a COVID-19 treatment has ramped up this week, with two new studies detailing the efficacy of Gilead’s antiviral therapy remdesivir in the treatment of patients hospitalised with coronavirus, while researchers in America have been studying famotidine, the active ingredient in Pepcid, as a potential drug to help alleviate symptoms of the virus.

In UK coronavirus new, English excess deaths from the pandemic are comparable to the worst hit countries in Europe, according to a Sky News analysis, while 12 children have fallen ill across the UK with a new and potentially fatal combination of symptoms linked to COVID-19.

10. Leading COVID-19 hope remdesivir fails to provide clinical benefit in first randomised trial

Gilead’s remdesivir, which has been hailed as one of the few truly promising treatments for COVID-19 at this early stage of the ongoing pandemic, has failed in its first randomised clinical trial, leaked data has revealed.

9. 12 British children hospitalised with rare condition linked to COVID-19

12 children have fallen ill across the UK with a new and potentially fatal combination of symptoms linked to COVID-19.

8. ‘Excess deaths’ in England among the highest in Europe

English excess deaths from the coronavirus are comparable to the worst hit countries in Europe, according to a Sky News analysis.

7. Italy to relax COVID-19 lockdown in early May

Italy has outlined its plans to ease the lockdown restrictions that were implemented across the country 7 weeks ago to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

6. NICE backtracks to approve Janssen's Stelara in ulcerative colitis

NICE has recommended Janssen’s Stelara (ustekinumab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), a move which rows back on the Institute’s decision to reject the drug last year.

5. AstraZeneca joins forces with University of Oxford to develop and manufacture potential coronavirus vaccine

A “landmark” partnership has been struck between AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford in the ongoing battle against COVID-19, with the former agreeing to aid in the development and large-scale manufacture of the latter’s potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine for the prevention of novel coronavirus infection.

4. Nearly half of Americans believe COVID-19 was created in a lab, according to a new survey

Almost half of Americans believe that the coronavirus was created in a lab, according to an April survey of 6,300 people.

3. Two studies reveal "positive" data for Gilead's remdesivir in hospitalised COVID-19 patients

The first findings of two new studies have been revealed detailing the efficacy of Gilead’s antiviral therapy remdesivir in the treatment of patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

2. Researchers studying heartburn drug as potential coronavirus treatment

Researchers in America have been studying famotidine, the active ingredient in Pepcid, as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

1. Arizona GOP lawmakers and AAPS say hydroxychloroquine has 90% chance of helping COVID-19 patients, but data is not based on clinical trials

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) wrote a letter to Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey urging the wider use of hydroxychloroquine, based on data they have collected.