Not meant to be impolite. Blunt maybe?
But then, your assertion that Boris J definitely won’t be on MSCs because he doesn't have pneumonia is almost certainly incorrect and misleading, because
1. Pure speculation - unless you have facts to support this somewhat outrageous assertion.
2. As we agreed, ARDS essentially appears to be the problem, not pneumonia.
3. IF I was doing a trial there could be several possible entry points for commencing R use. eg having Covid and :-
a) being on a ventilator;
b) being admitted to hospital with Covid with a PH of certain other high risk conditions eg heart disease, diabetes, obesity with BMI above ...; hypertension, lung disease, cancer, immunosuppression ??, elderly, etc
c) having oxygen saturations below say 90%;
d) various raised prognostic blood markers eg White Blood Cells, inflammatory markers
e) progressive CXR changes
f). other possible compassionate reasons.
One could just use R late or very late in the process. But if it works, or if one wants to further investigate its benefits, then they may decide to use it earlier than on those in ICU, and in extremis. Just depends on what FDA has approved, and on what MSB wants to investigate. Salvage or earlier prevention of ARDS. Or, as others have written, to prevent C-19 related complications in areas other than the lungs.
So there are many possible reasons why Boris and others could be given R as treatment. But none for pneumonia in my opinion. Main reason why not however is most likely because earlier reports said he was only on O2 - if that is true (so in the 15.% category not the 5% category). And because he is in London not the US!
Any comments that R will be used to treat pneumonia are probably confused media reporting, and incorrect at the present time, in my opinion.
Hope this helps clarify some stuff for people re possible trial use. The interesting thing about the trials is that if R is only used on the sickest, then there is a high chance that no benefit = death, and any severe side effect also probably = death. Hard then to know what caused the death, treatment or the disease. Or if given too late to help. Or not the best dose. So earlier use will give more information. But needs a cost benefit analysis also eg too expensive to give to everyone with a positive swab.
However, MSB should already have a lot of relevant knowledge re probably useful doses and treatment regimes and protocols.
At least, unlike earlier studies, any benefit results will be known within a few days. Side effects may not be known for years of course.
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