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. More from Northwell Health Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu. And follow us on social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/northwellhealth Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/northwellhealth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/northwellhealth/  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin/northwellhealth