Blood thinners for Covid-19 in Phase 3

The NIH has launched two Phase 3 trials to evaluate how blood thinners might help adults with Covid-19. The drugs, called ACTIV-4 Antithrombotics, are aimed specifically at treating Covid-19 patients with life-threatening blood clots. Researchers have found that many of the patients who died from Covid-19 had developed unusual blood clots throughout their bodies — leading to complications like organ damage, heart attack, and pulmonary embolism.

Scientists have been studying anticoagulant drugs for Covid-19 patients for several months now, with preliminary results showing that these drugs have helped tame the disease somewhat. A third Phase 3 trial examining these blood thinners in Covid-19 is also in the works, focused on patients after they’ve been discharged from the hospital.