J&J Says There's No Evidence HIV Drug Darunavir Works Against Covid-19

By Peter Loftus

Johnson & Johnson said Monday it has no evidence that its HIV drug darunavir is effective against Covid-19 or the coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease.

The company disclosed the information in a statement posted online for health-care professionals because of "anecdotal, unsubstantiated reports of potential darunavir activity against" the deadly coronavirus.

The New Brunswick, N.J., health-care giant has provided darunavir-containing drugs to support three clinical studies in China, expected to be completed later this year. "As soon as these data become available, we will update this information," J&J said.

Darunavir, sold under the brand name Prezista, was approved in the U.S. in 2006 for use with a boosting agent and in combination with other antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in adults.

J&J is one of several companies with HIV drugs that are under study to see if they could be effective against the novel coronavirus.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 16, 2020 13:20 ET (17:20 GMT)

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