THREAD: What is the significance of news today that there may be a drug active against covid? It's a beginning: The start of our ability to build a much better toolbox to combat the infection, mitigate risk today as well as from outbreaks that are likely to occur this Fall. 1/n
The drug isn't a home run but will probably benefit some patients, especially when used early in disease course for patients at higher risk of bad outcomes. It’s the beginning of a better toolbox, especially as covid collides with flu in Fall and we face significant new risks 2/
If we can get one or more of the antibody drugs approved or authorized by the Fall, and we also have one or more vaccines available in large quantities sufficient to undertake large scale trials in the setting of outbreaks, we’re going to have a much better toolbox available. 3/n
These advances must be coupled with improved screening; including an antigen based test that can be widely used at point of care. It has to be coupled with investments in case-based interventions like contact tracing. With these tools, we can make covid a more livable threat. 4/n
