Quebec researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute have found that colchicine — a medication used to treat inflammation and gout — is an effective oral treatment for COVID-19.

Colchicine is currently the only known effective oral medication for treating non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients — a world first, according to a press release issued by the Institute on January 23.

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44% Reduction in COVID-19 patient deaths with colchicine treatment 

The Institute tested the efficacy of the oral treatment as part of its COLCORONA clinical trial —  a "contact-less, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that took place at home" among approximately 4,500 COVID-19 patients worldwide, with at least one risk factor for complications.

Colchicine treatment reduced hospitalizations for patients in the study by 25%, reduced the need for mechanical ventilation by 50%, and reduced deaths by 44%.

Study results show that colchicine has overall reduced the risk of death or hospitalizations in patients with COVID-19 by 21% compared to a placebo, the press release says.

"Our research shows the efficacy of colchicine treatment in preventing the 'cytokine storm' phenomenon and reducing the complications associated with COVID-19," said Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, principal investigator of the COLCORONA trial.

COLCORONA is the world’s largest study that tested an orally-administered drug in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The study was coordinated by the Montreal Heart Institute's Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center (MHICC) and was funded, in part, by the Government of Quebec. 

This article's cover photo was used for illustrative purposes only.