(Reuters) – Johnson & Johnson said on Monday there is no evidence its HIV drug, Prezista, had any effect against the coronavirus, in response to reports that the drug could inhibit the virus.
The company said it was aware that HIV treatments are being considered as options to treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19, a disease caused by the coronavirus.
Johnson & Johnson said usage of HIV treatments were based on unpublished clinical data that were used on patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome – a virus similar to the pandemic. (https://bit.ly/2xIovfM)
Last month, China’s Changjiang Daily newspaper reported that a team of researchers led by Zhejiang University professor Li Lanjuan had found that drugs abidol and darunavir – another name for Prezista – can inhibit the virus in vitro cell experiments.
In vitro experiments refers to tests done within cells.
There are no published studies that evaluate Prezista as a treatment for the coronavirus, J&J said, adding that it is screening anti-viral drugs including darunavir to determine the in vitro effect against the virus.
(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
I believe I have had coronavirus for 14+ days. I am a 55 year old man with HIV and take antiviral medication. On my first sign of getting sick (which I thought may be a cold) I took Zicam nasal swabs. My symptoms were not severe; body aches and stiffness, dizziness, extreme fatigue and sleeping 16 hours per day. I was having sweat while asleep and assume i had low fever, but did not fell like I needed to take my temp. I continued the Zicam and symptoms were even less extreme. I read an internet article on HIV antiviral meds in combination with zinc. I started taking a zinc supplement asap. My symptoms decreased. I started a strange raspy cough when I laid down. I also had a deep change in my voice noticeable to everyone. Its now been 2 days and I am 100% over it. My HIV meds are Prezista, Norvir, and Odefszy; I also take 14 other medications for other medical issues.