Two generic drugs being tested in U.S. in race to find coronavirus treatments

U.S. researchers have launched studies to see whether widely-available low-cost generic drugs can be used to help treat the illness caused by the new coronavirus. There are currently no vaccines or treatments for the highly-contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness, so patients can only receive supportive care for now.

But a 1,500-person trial, led by the University of Minnesota, began this week to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19.

Two other trials are studying the blood pressure drug losartan as a possible treatment for the disease. Besides having a direct antiviral effect, hydroxychloroquine suppresses the production and release of proteins involved in the inflammatory complications of several viral diseases. Losartan is an angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1R) blocker, which researchers say could play a role in blocking an enzyme used by the virus to bind to cells. Pharmaceutical companies are also working to develop treatments for COVID-19.