Budesonide
Inhaled corticosteroids in virus pandemics: a treatment for COVID-19? - Dan V Nicolau & Mona Bafadhel

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Richard Bartlett made waves in a July 2 interview that already has racked up 4.1 million views online. In the interview, Bartlett, who has practiced medicine for 28 years and was part of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s Health Disparities Task Force, boasted a 100% survival rate for his patients since March by using his treatment strategy, centered around an inhaled steroid called budesonide.
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Resources
Trial demonstrates efficacy of inhaled budesonide to treat COVID-19 in the community
Findings from the PRINCIPLE trial suggest that inhaled budesonide can improve recovery time and could reduce hospital admissions or death from COVID-19 if administered early.
Inhaled budesonide for COVID-19 in people at high risk of complications in the community in the UK (PRINCIPLE): a randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial
Inhaled budesonide improves time to recovery, with a chance of also reducing hospital admissions or deaths (although our results did not meet the superiority threshold), in people with COVID-19 in the community who are at higher risk of complications.
Inhaled budesonide in the treatment of early COVID-19 (STOIC): a phase 2, open-label, randomised controlled trial
Early administration of inhaled budesonide reduced the likelihood of needing urgent medical care and reduced time to recovery after early COVID-19.
Inhaled Budesonide May Improve Outcomes in Early COVID-19 Treatment
When administered in early COVID-19, the inhaled glucocorticoid budesonide may reduce the necessity for urgent medical care and may reduce the time to recovery, according to study results published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Results from previous studies, conducted in vitro, suggest that the replication of SARS-CoV-2 is reduced in airway epithelial cells with inhaled glucocorticoid use. Additionally, inhaled glucocorticoids may lead to the downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) expression, both of which are essential for viral entry.
Inhaled corticosteroid added to COVID-19 PRINCIPLE trial
The PRINCIPLE trial is investigating budesonide as a treatment for COVID-19 patients who are not in hospital.
Inhaled corticosteroids in virus pandemics: a treatment for COVID-19?
Active discussions are ongoing concerning the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19, with evidence to support and advising against their use.
Is a new steroid treatment a miracle solution for COVID-19—or is it snake oil?
Richard Bartlett made waves in a July 2 interview that already has racked up 4.1 million views online. In the interview, Bartlett, who has practiced medicine for 28 years and was part of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s Health Disparities Task Force, boasted a 100% survival rate for his patients since March by using his treatment strategy, centered around an inhaled steroid called budesonide.
Budesonide
Budesonide is a glucocorticoid that is a mix of the 22R and 22S epimer used to treat inflammatory conditions of the lungs and intestines such as asthma, COPD, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Pulmicort
Budesonide is a synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. Upon administration, budesonide binds to intracellular glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and induces the expression of glucocorticoid-responsive genes that encode for anti-inflammatory mediators, such as certain anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 10 (IL-10), and lipocortins.

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