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On Coronacast with Norman Swan
Posted: Mon 7 Feb 2022, 1:01am
When it comes to ways to fight COVID-19, vaccines have been the main tool we've used so far during the pandemic.
But new antivirals are being produced for use including in Australia which has recently provisionally approved two different drugs.
They promise to help stop at-risk people ending up in hospital and dying.
So what are the drugs, how do they work and will they usher in a new way of handling the pandemic?
GUEST:
Professor Josh Davis, Infectious Diseases, Uni Newcastle, past president of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases and member of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce
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By Natasha Robinson
Posted: Tue 09 Nov 2021
"I think it’s a great advance and what’s attractive about these oral antiviral agents is that they’re much simpler to use and distribute than the intravenous therapies or other monoclonal antibodies,” Professor Tong said. “Vaccines will still be the first line of defence, and then the patients who get through that initial net will have these back-up options of oral antivirals and the monoclonal antibody treatments.”
“It will be really significant in helping to manage the resource of hospital beds and avoiding hospital admission, and it will help prevent the Australian healthcare system from being overwhelmed,” Professor Davis said.
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By Damon Cronshaw
Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2021, 4:21pm
Eight drugs have been proven to reduce COVID-19-related disease severity and mortality in large randomised controlled trials, University of Newcastle Conjoint Professor Josh Davis says.
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 Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2021, 4:21pm
Click the link to read Chief Investigator, Steven Tong's reflection on working on a COVID ward and share some patient stories.
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By Matilda Marozzi
Posted: Mon 13 Sep 2021, 11:58am
Key Points:
- Hospital staff are working "incredibly hard" to treat COVID patients on the ward and in ICU, Steven Tong says.
- Referrals to the hospital are "rapidly picking up pace" and Dr Tong expects it to get even busier than last year.
- Vaccination is the key to slowing down rates of infection and hospitalisation.
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Duration: 2min 53sec
Broadcast: Fri 10 Sep 2021, 7:00am
Vaccines remain the most important line of defense against COVID. But what if you do happen to need treatment?
Until recently there've been limited therapeutic options for those who get COVID, but that is starting to change.
Featured:
Audrey, COVID survivor
Professor Joshua Davis, chair, National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce
Steven Tong, infectious diseases physician, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Doherty Institute
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