Trump Takes Dexamethasone, Remdesivir and Regeneron’s Antibody Cocktail

President Trump is being treated with dexamethasone, remdesivir and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ investigational antibody cocktail in his battle against COVID-19, following his announcement Friday that he and the first lady had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, has shown promise in clinical trials for treating severely ill patients, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend its use for mild to moderate cases because of the drug’s side effects, which include mood changes. The drug is authorized in the UK for COVID-19 patients that need ventilation or oxygen. Trump’s doctors have not elaborated on why the president is receiving the drug if his case is relatively mild.

Remdesivir, Gilead Sciences’ promising COVID-19 treatment candidate, is allowed to be used for all hospitalized COVID-19 patients under an Emergency Use Authorization.

The president is also receiving Regeneron’s antibody treatment, REGN-COV2, under the FDA’s compassionate use program but it is otherwise restricted to use in clinical trials for now. The company revealed last week that the monoclonal antibody duo reduced viral load and time to alleviate symptoms in nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to trial data (DID, Sept. 30). It is currently being evaluated in four late-stage trials, including the UK’s RECOVERY trial. — James Miessler