AIIMS Bhopal claims good results in drug trial for COVID-19 treatment

Mycobacterium W was used for the treatment of leprosy and CSIR has tied up with Cadila Pharmaceuticals to evaluate its effect in hospitalised COVID-19 patients

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal has been conducting drug trials for the treatment of COVID-19, which have yielded some good results, claimed a senior official.

The trials of the drug Mycobacterium W (Mw) were conducted on COVID-19 patients at AIIMS Bhopal for the last few days, said the official.

“So far, three COVID-19 patients have recovered after the clinical trial of Mycobacterium W (Mw) at AIIMS,” told Dr Sarman Singh, Director, AIIMS Bhopal.

The trials were being run for the last few days and the results were good, as out of four patients enrolled for the trial, three had fully recovered and discharged, he said.

Singh also informed that soon Favipiravir, a drug used in Japan, will also be used for COVID-19 treatment here.

If Mycobacterium W proves effective during the clinical trial, it will be used in the treatment of COVID-19, he said.

Mycobacterium W was used in the treatment of leprosy and recently, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has tied up with Cadila Pharmaceuticals to evaluate the effect of this medicine for faster recovery of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, informed Singh.

Drug Controller of India has granted permission to conduct tests on critically ill COVID-19 patients at three major hospitals in the country including AIIMS Bhopal.