Small molecule COVID drugs helpful to some

Hospitals carry out comprehensive treatment of patients with COVID-19 and the use of small molecule COVID-19 drugs can help reduce the risk of severe infection or death, said a senior doctor.

Wang Guiqiang, director of the infections department at the Peking University First Hospital, told a news conference on Monday that comprehensive treatment includes antiviral treatment, oxygen therapy and immunologic therapy, and also respiratory treatment for patients with organ or respiratory failure.

He said that antiviral treatment is one of the important components of comprehensive therapy, which includes use of some small molecule COVID-19 drugs.

"These drugs can help ease symptoms and reduce the risk of severe infection, and thus the risk of hospitalization or death, by inhibiting viral replication," he said. "The drugs are oral so patients can get them in the community, and at clinics and hospitals."

He stressed that small molecule COVID-19 drugs should be used in early stages of infection — preferably within five days. "It can also lower the risk of severe infection in people with higher risk such as the elderly, and those with underlying diseases or who haven't been vaccinated but it may not work on the average patient."

He added that patients should take the drug under medical guidance to avoid adverse interractions between drugs or other reactions.