Context: In order the check the growing number of COVID-19 cases in India, the Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd has announced that it will conduct the phase-3 ‘FAITH’ trial in hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19 infection.
About FAITH Trials

• Under trhis the two drugs: Favipiravir and Umifenovir will be tried as a potential COVID-19 treatment strategy.
• This new combination clinical trial will be called FAITH – (FA vipiravir plus Um I fenovir (efficacy and safety) Trial in Indian Hospital setting).
• The two antiviral drugs have different mechanisms of action, and their combination may demonstrate improved treatment efficacy by effectively tackling high viral loads in patients during the early stages of the disease.
• This trial offers a comprehensive antiviral cover on pre-entry and post-entry life-cycle of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

About Solidarity Trial

• “Solidarity” is an international initiative for clinical trials launched by the WHO, along with partners, to help find an effective treatment for Covid-19.
• It was originally supposed to look at four drugs or drug combinations: Remdesivir, HCQ, Ritonavir/Lopinavir and Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Interferon beta 1a.
• Now with HCQ trial enrolment stalled for at least the next few weeks, the Solidarity trial will proceed with the other three arms.