The emergence of the novel coronavirus caught the world off-guard and sparked apocalyptic scenes globally, leaving normally packed streets deserted and disrupting people’s personal freedoms in ways rarely seen outside of wartime. For many people, initial lockdowns were confusing but also viewed as opportunities for some respite from the frantic nature of modern life. But as infection rates grew and increasing numbers of countries were affected, the seriousness of the situation became abundantly clear.

The shock, speed and severity of the Covid-19 pandemic has placed burdens on the reliability of news and given rise to rumours, misinformation and false advertising. The urgency of the evolving pandemic has seen a race for effective vaccines, firstly through research and development and then production. But the standard timeline for successful vaccine creation runs into years and even decades, something that would not have sufficed in 2020 as the world spiralled out of normality.

Solutions were needed, and stopgaps were sought. As 2020 wore on, the internet was awash with rumours of remedies and treatments, ranging from the legitimate to the bizarre. Many of these were off-label products – medical treatments normally used to treat other illnesses – and were seen as temporary solutions to save lives while vaccines were developed. A substantial number of the touted therapies have since been disproved. Meanwhile, vaccines have been developed to the highest of standards. No need for off-label products anymore when we have products that use LabTAG laboratory labels instead. With the benefit of hindsight, we have compiled a list of Covid-19 treatments which can be categorised as Fact, and those which can be consigned to Fiction.

FACT

Widely approved vaccines:

Pfizer-BioNTech

Authorised 11.12.20. Efficacy: 95%. Type: mRNA vaccine.

Moderna

Authorised 18.12.20. Efficacy: 95%. Type: mRNA vaccine.

Sputnik V

Authorised 11.08.20. Efficacy: 91%. Type: Adenovirus-based.

AstraZeneca-University of Oxford

Authorised 12.01.21. Efficacy: 70%. Type: Adenovirus-based.

Johnson & Johnson

Authorised: 27.02.21. Efficacy: c.70%. Type: Adenovirus-based.

Sinovac Biotech

Authorised 6.02.21. Efficacy: 50-90%. Type: Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Off-label medicines:

Remdesivir

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug which was originally used to treat Hepatitis. It has been authorised by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of hospitalized adult and pediatric patients with Covid, going against the World Health Organisation’s advice not to use it.

Taxifolin

A naturally occurring antioxidant found in Siberian trees and other vegetation, taxifolin was proven by a University of Basel study to inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-1, as well as playing a role in helping treat other diseases such as dementia. It has been shown to be particularly effective when administered in high concentrations. Currently undergoing further clinical trials as a treatment for Covid, the use of biostatistics services offered by somewhere like Synteract will also help to determine the effectiveness of the drug, with preliminary results looking positive.

Budesonide

Corticosteroid commonly used to manage asthma and other pulmonary illnesses. A University of Oxford study showed it to reduce the likelihood of hospital care, and to cut recovery time when taken at the onset of Covid-19 symptoms.

Tocilizumab

This monoclonal antibody drug, normally used to treat arthritis, was found to reduce mortality rates and hospitalisation time in multiple clinical trials, though the Lancet suggests its level of benefit is still unclear in some circumstances and requires further study.

Methylprednisolone and Dexamethasone

These corticosteroids were shown to reduce lengths of hospital stays and mortality rates. When both compared, patients receiving methylprednisolone had better outcomes and were less dependent on mechanical ventilation.

Bevacizumab

Normally used in cancer therapy, bevacizumab was trialled on Covid patients in China and Italy. Although the trial size was very small, initial results were promising and could warrant further research.

FICTION

Hydroxychloroquine

Received worldwide attention when Donald Trump preached its possible benefits and began taking pills. A National Institutes of Health clinical trial found that no benefit was gained by giving Covid patients hydroxychloroquine, a drug normally used to treat malaria and autoimmune disease.

Chloroquine phosphate

Antimalarial drug trialled alongside hydroxychloroquine but found to have no benefits and trials were stopped.

Lopinavir-ritonavir

A trial carried out in Brazil found no benefit to taking the antiviral drugs when given to newly-infected Covid patients.

Steroids

Steroids are increasingly being self-administered and incorrectly distributed, and have been one of the leading causes of the growing black fungus epidemic in parts of India. This developing situation highlights the risk of misusing medicines like steroids, which should only be used under medical supervision.

Ivermectin

A review of multiple studies suggested Ivermectin could reduce deaths by 75% but this data was seen as misleading and incorrect. The U.S. FDA and EMA deemed the drug, normally used to treat parasites in animals, unsafe as a treatment for Covid.

Vitamin D

A trial by the University of Barcelona positioned Vitamin D as a compelling treatment for Covid, but limitations in the trial’s reliability were criticised by health experts. Although its benefits are widely accepted and many governments already encourage people to take supplements in winter, Vitamin D is not considered to be an effective solution for Covid.

Industrial bleach

Toxic industrial bleaches have been advertised as cures for Covid, in particular chlorine dioxide, which was referenced by Trump as potentially beneficial before he backtracked subsequently. The publicity prompted the producer of disinfectants Lysol and Dettol to warn against using the products for medical purposes.

Cocaine

Rumours on social media suggested cocaine was an effective steriliser, though the French government quickly shut this down.

Steam inhalation

Viral messages on social media claimed regularly inhaling steam kills the virus before it reaches your lungs. There is no evidence for this claim and inhaling steam can be dangerous.