Can famotidine — a heartburn drug — treat Covid?

People with Covid-19 often get sick because the body’s inflammatory response to the virus overreacts. To tamp down that inflammation, researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, turned their sights toward famotidine, the active ingredient in a common over-the-counter heartburn medication with anti-inflammatory potential. On this bonus episode, we speak with the lead researcher of a unique clinical trial testing famotidine for Covid. Tobias Janowitz, MD, PhD, AN Assistant Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and adjunct professor at the Feinstein Institutes, shares the results of the study, as well as how the pandemic impacted their approach and led to an early success story for decentralized trials, repurposing medications and the importance of collaborating with other institutions.

Chapters:

• 00:08 - Intro
• 01:39 - Safety, efficacy of famotidine for Covid
• 02:55 - What is famotidine?
• 04:45 - A fully remote trial
• 05:58 - Virtual trial strengths, weaknesses
• 07:00 - Famotidine dosage for heartburn, Covid treatment
• 08:12 - Studying famotidine for Covid
• 09:10 - Decentralized clinical trials
• 10:56 - New paradigms, new problems
• 12:02 - A national focus on decentralized trials
• 13:16 - Collaboration supports clinical excellence

This bonus episode expands on Ep. 102 featuring Onisis Stefas, PharmD, executive director of VIVO Health. Listen to that episode, available in our feed, to learn about the Covid treatments available today.

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