COVID-19: AIIMS Bhopal claims good results in drug trial

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

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

"So far, three COVID-19 patients have recovered after clinical trial of Mycobacterium W (Mw) at AIIMS," director of institute Dr Sarman Singh told PTI.

trials were being run for last few days and results were good, as out of four patients enrolled for trial, three h 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 clinical trial, it will be used in treatment of COVID-19, he said.

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

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