Solidarity trial

Solidarity trial is an international clinical research initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial aims to find an effective treatment for COVID-19 by comparing the effects of different drugs or drug combinations on the disease's major outcomes.

Background[edit | edit source]

The Solidarity trial was announced by the WHO on March 18, 2020. It is part of the organization's broader strategic plan to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes efforts to suppress transmission, reduce exposure, counter misinformation, and protect the vulnerable.

Design[edit | edit source]

The trial is designed as an adaptive, randomized, open clinical trial. This means that the treatments being tested can be modified based on results from patients in the trial. The trial includes four treatment options: Remdesivir, Lopinavir/Ritonavir, Lopinavir/Ritonavir with Interferon beta-1a, and Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine. These drugs were chosen because of their potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

Results[edit | edit source]

Preliminary results from the Solidarity trial were published in October 2020. The results showed that none of the treatments tested had a substantial effect on mortality, the initiation of ventilation, or the duration of hospital stay in hospitalized patients.

Criticism[edit | edit source]

The Solidarity trial has faced criticism for its open-label design, which means that patients and doctors know which treatment is being administered. Critics argue that this could introduce bias into the trial's results. However, the WHO has defended the design, stating that it allows for faster and more flexible testing of drugs.