Introduction
Covid-19 has aroused an unprecedented scientific ferment to tackle this
deadly pandemic. The most important scientific journals, including
Allergy, have created a specific section on COVID-19. As of April 28,
PubMed listed 7442 papers published in 2020 (almost eight every working
hour), but this number is increasing as rapidly as the number of
worldwide infected people and deaths reported daily by the WHO and the
national authorities. Through this emerging literature, much has been
learned on the mechanisms of SARS CoV-2 infection1,2,
modes of transmission, incubation period, clinical features, incidence
and lethality of the disease3,4.
Following initial discordant strategies in different
countriesI, there has also been general agreement on
the efficacy of the lockdown in China and the strict public health
measures firstly implemented in Europe by the Italian government to
suppress COVID-19 diffusion (isolation of areas with a high number of
positive cases, closure of non-essential public places, schools and
universities, cancellation of congresses and mass gathering events).
Recommendations made by governments appear to be fully justified and
supported by accurate modelling on their potential effect on the
mitigation or suppression of the infection5.
On the other hand, the search for an effective therapy of COVID-19 is
still a work in progress, which demands a harmonized approach of the
scientific community. This article aims to provide a critical overview
on the clinical trials exploring potential treatment for COVID-19.