🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 120 (from laksa015)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa120.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.lung.org/blog/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.lung.org/blog/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies","crawl_time":1775107373,"first_indexed_time":1601428852,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,lung!www,\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies s443","src_root_hash":"12972902985515685920","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Treating COVID-19 with Investigational, Off-Label, Unproven Therapies | American Lung Association","meta_descriptions":["When COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"When COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course. Though this remains the approved therapy today, many alternative treatment options have been discussed in the news. This can be incredibly confusing for anyone looking to protect themselves.\nFirst of all, let’s define the term “off-label.” \nA drug gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on randomized, controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective to treat a specific disease. That disease is named in the FDA’s product information pamphlet for that drug and the use is considered part of the “label” for that drug’s use. A physician can use drugs that have an approved indication for one disease to treat another disease that is not stated in the FDA’s “label.” This type of use is considered “off-label” because the FDA did not say the drug was studied specifically for that other disease or indication.\nThe American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, helped us understand more about some of the “off-label” treatments available for COVID-19.  \nQ: Why is supportive care still recommended even though many people have died of COVID-19?\nA: Most individuals develop mild to moderate COVID-19. Though symptoms vary from person to person here’s a snapshot of what we’ve seen:\nAsymptomatic\nMild disease\nModerate disease\nSevere disease\nHave no symptoms\nLow fever\nFever and chills\nDifficulty breathing\nDry cough\nDeep cough\nChest pain\nFatigue\nFatigue and body aches\nConfusion\nHeadache\nFeeling unwell\nDeath\nMay spread the disease to others\nMay spread the disease to others\nMay spread the disease to others\nMay spread the disease to others\nFor most people, these mild to moderate symptoms can be treated at home with supportive care. That shouldn’t be confused as not being treated, it just means we don’t have a specific targeted medication that makes the disease go away. Resting, staying hydrated, etc. is the best course of action in these cases. A smaller percentage of individuals develop the severe disease and will need to be hospitalized. For these individuals, they may use supportive care AND additional investigational, off-label, unproven therapies to support vital organ functions.\nQ: What do you mean investigational, off-label, unproven therapies?\nA: Because COVID-19 is a new disease, we are still determining what treatment works best for most people. While we are still learning about COVID-19, healthcare providers have a lot of experience treating other diseases that have some similarities to the disease processes seen in COVID-19 patients. Because a percentage of patients have life-threatening illness, the medical community has launched a worldwide collaborative effort to share therapies that have not been fully tested in COVID-19 cases but offer some potential benefit based on how the drug has worked in other diseases. Some of these therapies are given as part of clinical trials where there is very closely monitored benefits and side effects such that they may ultimately be proven effective for therapy. But many patients receiving these therapies are also receiving other types  of treatment and it may be hard to determine which drug is giving the best effect or it may be that the drugs are working better together. \nIt is hard in this situation to really set up a control group as defined in most clinical trials for drugs being put through the process of meeting FDA approval for a specific treatment. These patients are given multiple drugs in an effort to save lives. This is also why the FDA has used its Emergency Use Access designation at times to allow some drug availability even though a true randomized double-blind controlled trial has not been done.\nIt’s a lot to keep up with, but there is an amazing amount of information sharing across the world as providers try out different options and share their results with fellow providers. It is vitally important to all that if there are any negative side effects of treatments that we stop using them. \nQ: Can you give some examples of investigational, off-label, unproven therapies?\nA: You’ve likely heard some about these in the media. First, we are analyzing antibodies present in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. For individuals who recovered from the infection, their plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies that helped their immune system fight off the virus. It’s possible that plasma with these antibodies might help other people fight COVID-19 as well. The evidence is not clear-cut, but some patients seem to benefit.\nSecond, we are looking at antiviral medications. In general, antivirals work by stopping the virus from spreading between cells within your body when you have already been infected. Current research recommends further study of one antiviral, remdesivir, in certain patients who are sick with COVID-19 and against using other antiviral medications, such as hydroxychloroquine. But remember that there are multiple ways to kill a virus and using drugs in combination may be the advised route. Again, there is no clinical trial to guide us here, so this is unproven, off-label, investigational but apparently helpful to an extent that ongoing trials are needed.\nNext, there is continued interest in anti-inflammatory medications such as tocilizumab or other steroids because COVID-19 is causing a severe immune response in some individuals. It is thought these treatments may be beneficial in some circumstances and is continuing to be studied. \nQ: What will it take for one of these therapies to become an approved therapy?\nA: Throughout the history of medicine, physicians have been studying treatments to see if they are effective and safe. We use off-label therapies in a variety of circumstances, such as when there are no approved treatments yet for a new disease like COVID-19. \nNot every person responds to the same treatment in the same way so it important to observe any treatment in a large number of individuals before making a recommendation to use it as standard care of treatment. Approved treatments have completed extensive testing and have vast scientific proof that they are safe and effective. \nUntil these benchmarks are met, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 other than supportive care for the mildly affected and for those hospitalized with critical illness, the doctors on the front-line are using their best judgment to institute therapies at the appropriate time in the course of the disease to give benefit based on the information sharing that has been going on worldwide.\nThere is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to avoid illness is to\navoid being exposed to the virus\n.\nBlog last updated: October 28, 2025","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies#main)\n\n[![American Lung Association Logo](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/Content\/images\/header-logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/)   [Donate](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/donate)\n\nSearch Close\n\nMenuClose\n\n[Call the Lung HelpLine]()\n\n[Ask a Question](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/support-community\/lung-helpline-and-tobacco-quitline) [Live Chat]()\n\n- [Events](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/events)\n- [Shop](https:\/\/shop.lung.org\/ala_shop\/shop\/home)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog)\n- [LUNG FORCE](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-force)\n- [Help & Support](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/help-support)\n- [Login](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/signin)\n\nThe following text field filters the results that follow as you type. 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- [Become a Facilitator or Educator](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/professional-education\/training-certification)\n    - [Become an Advocate](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policy-advocacy\/take-action)\n      - [Alerts & Petitions](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policy-advocacy\/take-action\/action-alerts)\n      - [Join the Lung Action Network](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policy-advocacy\/take-action\/lung-action-network)\n    - [Shared Stories](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/shared-stories)\n      - [Share Your Story](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/share-your-story)\n  - - [Sign Up for Email](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/email-sign-up)\n    - [Volunteer](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/volunteer)\n    - [Ways to Give](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give)\n    - [DIY Fundraising](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/diy)\n    - [Youth & Young Adults In Action](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/youth-empowerment)\n  - - [![Join a Fight For Air Climb]() Join a Fight For Air Climb Step up for lung health by participating in a Fight For Air Climb event near you. Save your spot on the stairs today\\!](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/events\/fight-for-air-climbs)\n- [Ways to Give](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give)\n  - Close Megamenu\n  - [Ways to Give](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give)\n  - - [Donate Today](https:\/\/action.lung.org\/site\/Donation2?df_id=31271&mfc_pref=T&31271.donation=form1)\n      - [One-Time Gift](https:\/\/action.lung.org\/site\/Donation2?df_id=31271&mfc_pref=T&31271.donation=form1)\n      - [Monthly](https:\/\/action.lung.org\/site\/Donation2?df_id=31270&mfc_pref=T&31270.donation=form1)\n      - [Honor & Memorial](https:\/\/action.lung.org\/site\/Donation2?df_id=31272&mfc_pref=T&31272.donation=form1)\n    - [Legacy Giving](https:\/\/legacy.lung.org\/)\n      - [Gifts of Stock](https:\/\/legacy.lung.org\/gifts-of-securities\/)\n      - [Donor Advised Funds](https:\/\/legacy.lung.org\/gifts-from-donor-advised-funds\/)\n      - [Retirement Plans](https:\/\/legacy.lung.org\/ways-to-give\/gifts-that-make-an-impact-now\/)\n      - [View More](https:\/\/legacy.lung.org\/)\n  - - [Why Give](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/why-support)\n      - [Donor FAQs](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/donation-faq)\n      - [Reasons to Be a Monthly Donor](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/donate-monthly)\n    - [Donate a Car](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/vehicle-donation-program)\n    - [Christmas Seals®](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/christmas-seals)\n    - [Shop & Give Back](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/lung-love\/shop-and-give-back)\n  - - [Corporate Support](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/sponsors-and-supporters)\n    - [Start a Fundraiser (DIY)](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/diy)\n      - [SMASH the Stats](https:\/\/smashthestats.funraise.org\/)\n      - [Be a Lung-Saver](https:\/\/bealungsaver.funraise.org\/)\n      - [Powered By Lungs](https:\/\/poweredbylungs.funraise.org\/)\n      - [Livestream for Lungs](https:\/\/tiltify.com\/american-lung-association)\n      - [View More](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/diy)\n    - [Create a Memorial Wall](https:\/\/wallofremembrance.funraise.org\/)\n  - - [Double Your Gift Matching gifts are a great way to stretch your donation. Check to see if your donation is eligible.](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/matching-gifts)\n- [Donate](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/donate)\n\n- Location:  [Update](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies)\n- [Events](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/events)\n- [Shop](https:\/\/shop.lung.org\/ala_shop\/shop\/home)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog)\n- [LUNG FORCE](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-force)\n- [Help & Support](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/help-support)\n- [Login](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/signin)\n- [Translate](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies)\n\n![Each Breath Blog]()\n\n# Treating COVID-19 with Investigational, Off-Label, Unproven Therapies\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies)\n- [Twitter]()\n- [LinkedIn]()\n- [Email]()\n- [Print]()\n\n[Back to Each Breath Blog](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/ask-the-american-lung-association)\n\n### Each Breath Blog\n- [Back to Each Breath Blog](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog)\n\nby Editorial Staff \\| September 28, 2020\n\nTopics:\n\n- COVID-19\n\nWhen COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course. Though this remains the approved therapy today, many alternative treatment options have been discussed in the news. This can be incredibly confusing for anyone looking to protect themselves.\n\nFirst of all, let’s define the term “off-label.”\n\nA drug gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on randomized, controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective to treat a specific disease. That disease is named in the FDA’s product information pamphlet for that drug and the use is considered part of the “label” for that drug’s use. A physician can use drugs that have an approved indication for one disease to treat another disease that is not stated in the FDA’s “label.” This type of use is considered “off-label” because the FDA did not say the drug was studied specifically for that other disease or indication.\n\nThe American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, helped us understand more about some of the “off-label” treatments available for COVID-19.\n\n#### Q: Why is supportive care still recommended even though many people have died of COVID-19?\nA: Most individuals develop mild to moderate COVID-19. Though symptoms vary from person to person here’s a snapshot of what we’ve seen:\n\n| Asymptomatic | Mild disease | Moderate disease | Severe disease |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| Have no symptoms | Low fever | Fever and chills | Difficulty breathing |\n|   | Dry cough | Deep cough | Chest pain |\n|   | Fatigue | Fatigue and body aches | Confusion |\n|   | Headache | Feeling unwell | Death |\n| *May spread the disease to others* | *May spread the disease to others* | *May spread the disease to others* | *May spread the disease to others* |\n\nFor most people, these mild to moderate symptoms can be treated at home with supportive care. That shouldn’t be confused as not being treated, it just means we don’t have a specific targeted medication that makes the disease go away. Resting, staying hydrated, etc. is the best course of action in these cases. A smaller percentage of individuals develop the severe disease and will need to be hospitalized. For these individuals, they may use supportive care AND additional investigational, off-label, unproven therapies to support vital organ functions.\n\n#### Q: What do you mean investigational, off-label, unproven therapies?\nA: Because COVID-19 is a new disease, we are still determining what treatment works best for most people. While we are still learning about COVID-19, healthcare providers have a lot of experience treating other diseases that have some similarities to the disease processes seen in COVID-19 patients. Because a percentage of patients have life-threatening illness, the medical community has launched a worldwide collaborative effort to share therapies that have not been fully tested in COVID-19 cases but offer some potential benefit based on how the drug has worked in other diseases. Some of these therapies are given as part of clinical trials where there is very closely monitored benefits and side effects such that they may ultimately be proven effective for therapy. But many patients receiving these therapies are also receiving other types of treatment and it may be hard to determine which drug is giving the best effect or it may be that the drugs are working better together.\n\nIt is hard in this situation to really set up a control group as defined in most clinical trials for drugs being put through the process of meeting FDA approval for a specific treatment. These patients are given multiple drugs in an effort to save lives. This is also why the FDA has used its Emergency Use Access designation at times to allow some drug availability even though a true randomized double-blind controlled trial has not been done.\n\nIt’s a lot to keep up with, but there is an amazing amount of information sharing across the world as providers try out different options and share their results with fellow providers. It is vitally important to all that if there are any negative side effects of treatments that we stop using them.\n\n#### Q: Can you give some examples of investigational, off-label, unproven therapies?\nA: You’ve likely heard some about these in the media. First, we are analyzing antibodies present in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. For individuals who recovered from the infection, their plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies that helped their immune system fight off the virus. It’s possible that plasma with these antibodies might help other people fight COVID-19 as well. The evidence is not clear-cut, but some patients seem to benefit.\n\nSecond, we are looking at antiviral medications. In general, antivirals work by stopping the virus from spreading between cells within your body when you have already been infected. Current research recommends further study of one antiviral, remdesivir, in certain patients who are sick with COVID-19 and against using other antiviral medications, such as hydroxychloroquine. But remember that there are multiple ways to kill a virus and using drugs in combination may be the advised route. Again, there is no clinical trial to guide us here, so this is unproven, off-label, investigational but apparently helpful to an extent that ongoing trials are needed.\n\nNext, there is continued interest in anti-inflammatory medications such as tocilizumab or other steroids because COVID-19 is causing a severe immune response in some individuals. It is thought these treatments may be beneficial in some circumstances and is continuing to be studied.\n\n#### Q: What will it take for one of these therapies to become an approved therapy?\nA: Throughout the history of medicine, physicians have been studying treatments to see if they are effective and safe. We use off-label therapies in a variety of circumstances, such as when there are no approved treatments yet for a new disease like COVID-19.\n\nNot every person responds to the same treatment in the same way so it important to observe any treatment in a large number of individuals before making a recommendation to use it as standard care of treatment. Approved treatments have completed extensive testing and have vast scientific proof that they are safe and effective.\n\nUntil these benchmarks are met, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 other than supportive care for the mildly affected and for those hospitalized with critical illness, the doctors on the front-line are using their best judgment to institute therapies at the appropriate time in the course of the disease to give benefit based on the information sharing that has been going on worldwide.\n\n***There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to avoid illness is to [avoid being exposed to the virus](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/covid-19\/prevention).***\n\nDisclaimer: The information in this article was medically reviewed and accurate at the time of posting. Because knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 is constantly evolving, data or insights may have changed. The most recent posts are listed on the [EACH Breath blog landing page](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog \"https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\"). You may also visit our [COVID-19 section](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/covid-19 \"https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/covid-19\") for updated disease information and contact our Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA for COVID-19 questions.\n\nBlog last updated: October 28, 2025\n\n[Show](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies#modaal_newslettermodal)\n\n[Show](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies#modaal_altnewslettermodal)\n\n## Make a Donation\nYour tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more.\n\n[Make a Donation](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/donate)\n\n## Become a Lung Health Insider\nJoin over 700,000 people who receive the latest news about lung health, including research, lung disease, air quality, quitting tobacco, inspiring stories and more\\!\n\nThank you! You will now receive email updates from the American Lung Association.\n\n[Freedom From Smoking Clinic - Grand Island, NE Grand Island, NE \\| Feb 24, 2026](https:\/\/action.lung.org\/site\/TR?fr_id=29030&pg=entry)   [Freedom From Smoking Clinic - Burlington, MA Burlington, MA \\| Mar 02, 2026](https:\/\/action.lung.org\/site\/TR?fr_id=29139&pg=entry)\n\n[See All Events](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/events)\n\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us)\n  - [About Us](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us)\n  - [Mission, Impact, and History](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/our-mission)\n  - [Our Leadership](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/our-leadership)\n  - [Scientific Advisors](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/scientific-advisors)\n  - [Patient Advisory Groups](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/patient-advisors)\n  - [Financial Statements](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/financial-statements)\n  - [In the News](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/media\/in-the-news)\n  - [Careers](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/careers)\n- [For Media](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/media)\n  - [For Media](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/media)\n  - [Media Experts](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/media\/meet-our-experts)\n  - [Press Releases](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/media\/press-releases)\n\n- [Get Involved](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved)\n  - [Get Involved](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved)\n  - [Events](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/events)\n  - [Volunteer](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/volunteer)\n  - [Ways to Give](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give)\n  - [Become an Advocate](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policy-advocacy\/take-action\/tips-to-become-an-advocate)\n  - [Share Your Story](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/share-your-story)\n  - [Sponsors & Supporters](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/get-involved\/ways-to-give\/sponsors-and-supporters)\n- [Professional Education](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/professional-education)\n  - [Professional Education](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/professional-education)\n  - [Training & Certification](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/professional-education\/training-certification)\n  - [Get Health Education Materials](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/professional-education\/get-health-education-materials)\n\n- [Signature Reports](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/research\/about-signature-reports)\n  - [Signature Reports](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/research\/about-signature-reports)\n  - [State of the Air](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/research\/sota)\n  - [State of Lung Cancer Report](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/research\/state-of-lung-cancer)\n  - [State of Tobacco Control](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/research\/sotc)\n\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lungusa\/)\n- [X](https:\/\/x.com\/LungAssociation)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lungassociation\/)\n- [Youtube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/americanlung)\n- [LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/american-lung-association)\n- [TikTok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@americanlungassociation?lang=en)\n\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/contact-us)\n  - [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/about-us\/contact-us)\n  - [1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872)](tel:1-800-586-4872)\n  - [Submit a Question](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/help-support\/lung-helpline\/submit-your-question)\n- [Spanish Resources](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/espanol)\n\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lungusa\/)\n- [X](https:\/\/x.com\/LungAssociation)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lungassociation\/)\n- [Youtube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/americanlung)\n- [LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/american-lung-association)\n- [TikTok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@americanlungassociation?lang=en)\n\n![National Health Council]()\n\n[![Candid]()](https:\/\/www.guidestar.org\/profile\/shared\/9bfc9632-d5f8-46f5-82e5-1159e49342a0)\n\n[![Charity Navigator]()](https:\/\/www.charitynavigator.org\/ein\/131632524)\n\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policies\/terms-of-use)\n- [Policies](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policies)\n- [Sitemap](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/sitemap)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policies\/privacy-policy)\n- [Ethics Policy](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policies\/corporate-ethics-reporting)\n\n©2026 American Lung Association. The American Lung Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our Tax ID is: 13‑1632524.\n\nClose Banner\n\nThis website uses cookies to improve content delivery.\n\n[Learn more](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/policies\/privacy-policy)\n\nBack to Top\n\nAccessibility\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies#main)\n\n### Select Your Location\nSelect your location to view local American Lung Association events and news near you.\n\nZip Code\n\nOr\n\nState\n\nUpdate Location\n\n### Change Language\n[![translated by Google]()](https:\/\/support.google.com\/translate\/answer\/2534530?hl=en)\n\n## Lung HelpLine\nTalk to our lung health experts at the American Lung Association. Our service is free and we are here to help you.\n\n[Call Our HelpLine](tel:18005864872)\n\n### 1-800-LUNG-USA\n(1-800-586-4872)\n\n[Ask a Question](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/support-community\/lung-helpline-and-tobacco-quitline) [Live Chat]()\n\nPlease ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of [website accessibility](https:\/\/userway.org\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"When COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course. Though this remains the approved therapy today, many alternative treatment options have been discussed in the news. This can be incredibly confusing for anyone looking to protect themselves.\n\nFirst of all, let’s define the term “off-label.”\n\nA drug gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on randomized, controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective to treat a specific disease. That disease is named in the FDA’s product information pamphlet for that drug and the use is considered part of the “label” for that drug’s use. A physician can use drugs that have an approved indication for one disease to treat another disease that is not stated in the FDA’s “label.” This type of use is considered “off-label” because the FDA did not say the drug was studied specifically for that other disease or indication.\n\nThe American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, helped us understand more about some of the “off-label” treatments available for COVID-19.\n\n#### Q: Why is supportive care still recommended even though many people have died of COVID-19?\nA: Most individuals develop mild to moderate COVID-19. Though symptoms vary from person to person here’s a snapshot of what we’ve seen:\n\n| Asymptomatic | Mild disease | Moderate disease | Severe disease |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| Have no symptoms | Low fever | Fever and chills | Difficulty breathing |\n|   | Dry cough | Deep cough | Chest pain |\n|   | Fatigue | Fatigue and body aches | Confusion |\n|   | Headache | Feeling unwell | Death |\n| *May spread the disease to others* | *May spread the disease to others* | *May spread the disease to others* | *May spread the disease to others* |\n\nFor most people, these mild to moderate symptoms can be treated at home with supportive care. That shouldn’t be confused as not being treated, it just means we don’t have a specific targeted medication that makes the disease go away. Resting, staying hydrated, etc. is the best course of action in these cases. A smaller percentage of individuals develop the severe disease and will need to be hospitalized. For these individuals, they may use supportive care AND additional investigational, off-label, unproven therapies to support vital organ functions.\n\n#### Q: What do you mean investigational, off-label, unproven therapies?\nA: Because COVID-19 is a new disease, we are still determining what treatment works best for most people. While we are still learning about COVID-19, healthcare providers have a lot of experience treating other diseases that have some similarities to the disease processes seen in COVID-19 patients. Because a percentage of patients have life-threatening illness, the medical community has launched a worldwide collaborative effort to share therapies that have not been fully tested in COVID-19 cases but offer some potential benefit based on how the drug has worked in other diseases. Some of these therapies are given as part of clinical trials where there is very closely monitored benefits and side effects such that they may ultimately be proven effective for therapy. But many patients receiving these therapies are also receiving other types of treatment and it may be hard to determine which drug is giving the best effect or it may be that the drugs are working better together.\n\nIt is hard in this situation to really set up a control group as defined in most clinical trials for drugs being put through the process of meeting FDA approval for a specific treatment. These patients are given multiple drugs in an effort to save lives. This is also why the FDA has used its Emergency Use Access designation at times to allow some drug availability even though a true randomized double-blind controlled trial has not been done.\n\nIt’s a lot to keep up with, but there is an amazing amount of information sharing across the world as providers try out different options and share their results with fellow providers. It is vitally important to all that if there are any negative side effects of treatments that we stop using them.\n\n#### Q: Can you give some examples of investigational, off-label, unproven therapies?\nA: You’ve likely heard some about these in the media. First, we are analyzing antibodies present in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. For individuals who recovered from the infection, their plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies that helped their immune system fight off the virus. It’s possible that plasma with these antibodies might help other people fight COVID-19 as well. The evidence is not clear-cut, but some patients seem to benefit.\n\nSecond, we are looking at antiviral medications. In general, antivirals work by stopping the virus from spreading between cells within your body when you have already been infected. Current research recommends further study of one antiviral, remdesivir, in certain patients who are sick with COVID-19 and against using other antiviral medications, such as hydroxychloroquine. But remember that there are multiple ways to kill a virus and using drugs in combination may be the advised route. Again, there is no clinical trial to guide us here, so this is unproven, off-label, investigational but apparently helpful to an extent that ongoing trials are needed.\n\nNext, there is continued interest in anti-inflammatory medications such as tocilizumab or other steroids because COVID-19 is causing a severe immune response in some individuals. It is thought these treatments may be beneficial in some circumstances and is continuing to be studied.\n\n#### Q: What will it take for one of these therapies to become an approved therapy?\nA: Throughout the history of medicine, physicians have been studying treatments to see if they are effective and safe. We use off-label therapies in a variety of circumstances, such as when there are no approved treatments yet for a new disease like COVID-19.\n\nNot every person responds to the same treatment in the same way so it important to observe any treatment in a large number of individuals before making a recommendation to use it as standard care of treatment. Approved treatments have completed extensive testing and have vast scientific proof that they are safe and effective.\n\nUntil these benchmarks are met, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 other than supportive care for the mildly affected and for those hospitalized with critical illness, the doctors on the front-line are using their best judgment to institute therapies at the appropriate time in the course of the disease to give benefit based on the information sharing that has been going on worldwide.\n\n***There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to avoid illness is to [avoid being exposed to the virus](https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/covid-19\/prevention).***\n\nBlog last updated: October 28, 2025","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"","ml_types_json":"","ml_intent_types_json":"","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":"American Lung Association","attrs_publish_time":0,"attrs_original_publish_time":1601428852,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"2427","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"1093","body_ext_links_number":22,"body_int_links_number":183,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":0,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":270,"download_ttfb_msec":269,"download_size":21632}

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URL	https://www.lung.org/blog/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies
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Meta Title	Treating COVID-19 with Investigational, Off-Label, Unproven Therapies \| American Lung Association
Meta Description	When COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course.
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Boilerpipe Text	When COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course. Though this remains the approved therapy today, many alternative treatment options have been discussed in the news. This can be incredibly confusing for anyone looking to protect themselves. First of all, let’s define the term “off-label.” A drug gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on randomized, controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective to treat a specific disease. That disease is named in the FDA’s product information pamphlet for that drug and the use is considered part of the “label” for that drug’s use. A physician can use drugs that have an approved indication for one disease to treat another disease that is not stated in the FDA’s “label.” This type of use is considered “off-label” because the FDA did not say the drug was studied specifically for that other disease or indication. The American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, helped us understand more about some of the “off-label” treatments available for COVID-19. Q: Why is supportive care still recommended even though many people have died of COVID-19? A: Most individuals develop mild to moderate COVID-19. Though symptoms vary from person to person here’s a snapshot of what we’ve seen: Asymptomatic Mild disease Moderate disease Severe disease Have no symptoms Low fever Fever and chills Difficulty breathing Dry cough Deep cough Chest pain Fatigue Fatigue and body aches Confusion Headache Feeling unwell Death May spread the disease to others May spread the disease to others May spread the disease to others May spread the disease to others For most people, these mild to moderate symptoms can be treated at home with supportive care. That shouldn’t be confused as not being treated, it just means we don’t have a specific targeted medication that makes the disease go away. Resting, staying hydrated, etc. is the best course of action in these cases. A smaller percentage of individuals develop the severe disease and will need to be hospitalized. For these individuals, they may use supportive care AND additional investigational, off-label, unproven therapies to support vital organ functions. Q: What do you mean investigational, off-label, unproven therapies? A: Because COVID-19 is a new disease, we are still determining what treatment works best for most people. While we are still learning about COVID-19, healthcare providers have a lot of experience treating other diseases that have some similarities to the disease processes seen in COVID-19 patients. Because a percentage of patients have life-threatening illness, the medical community has launched a worldwide collaborative effort to share therapies that have not been fully tested in COVID-19 cases but offer some potential benefit based on how the drug has worked in other diseases. Some of these therapies are given as part of clinical trials where there is very closely monitored benefits and side effects such that they may ultimately be proven effective for therapy. But many patients receiving these therapies are also receiving other types of treatment and it may be hard to determine which drug is giving the best effect or it may be that the drugs are working better together. It is hard in this situation to really set up a control group as defined in most clinical trials for drugs being put through the process of meeting FDA approval for a specific treatment. These patients are given multiple drugs in an effort to save lives. This is also why the FDA has used its Emergency Use Access designation at times to allow some drug availability even though a true randomized double-blind controlled trial has not been done. It’s a lot to keep up with, but there is an amazing amount of information sharing across the world as providers try out different options and share their results with fellow providers. It is vitally important to all that if there are any negative side effects of treatments that we stop using them. Q: Can you give some examples of investigational, off-label, unproven therapies? A: You’ve likely heard some about these in the media. First, we are analyzing antibodies present in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. For individuals who recovered from the infection, their plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies that helped their immune system fight off the virus. It’s possible that plasma with these antibodies might help other people fight COVID-19 as well. The evidence is not clear-cut, but some patients seem to benefit. Second, we are looking at antiviral medications. In general, antivirals work by stopping the virus from spreading between cells within your body when you have already been infected. Current research recommends further study of one antiviral, remdesivir, in certain patients who are sick with COVID-19 and against using other antiviral medications, such as hydroxychloroquine. But remember that there are multiple ways to kill a virus and using drugs in combination may be the advised route. Again, there is no clinical trial to guide us here, so this is unproven, off-label, investigational but apparently helpful to an extent that ongoing trials are needed. Next, there is continued interest in anti-inflammatory medications such as tocilizumab or other steroids because COVID-19 is causing a severe immune response in some individuals. It is thought these treatments may be beneficial in some circumstances and is continuing to be studied. Q: What will it take for one of these therapies to become an approved therapy? A: Throughout the history of medicine, physicians have been studying treatments to see if they are effective and safe. We use off-label therapies in a variety of circumstances, such as when there are no approved treatments yet for a new disease like COVID-19. Not every person responds to the same treatment in the same way so it important to observe any treatment in a large number of individuals before making a recommendation to use it as standard care of treatment. Approved treatments have completed extensive testing and have vast scientific proof that they are safe and effective. Until these benchmarks are met, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 other than supportive care for the mildly affected and for those hospitalized with critical illness, the doctors on the front-line are using their best judgment to institute therapies at the appropriate time in the course of the disease to give benefit based on the information sharing that has been going on worldwide. There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to avoid illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus . Blog last updated: October 28, 2025
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Though this remains the approved therapy today, many alternative treatment options have been discussed in the news. This can be incredibly confusing for anyone looking to protect themselves. First of all, let’s define the term “off-label.” A drug gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on randomized, controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective to treat a specific disease. That disease is named in the FDA’s product information pamphlet for that drug and the use is considered part of the “label” for that drug’s use. A physician can use drugs that have an approved indication for one disease to treat another disease that is not stated in the FDA’s “label.” This type of use is considered “off-label” because the FDA did not say the drug was studied specifically for that other disease or indication. The American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, helped us understand more about some of the “off-label” treatments available for COVID-19. #### Q: Why is supportive care still recommended even though many people have died of COVID-19? A: Most individuals develop mild to moderate COVID-19. Though symptoms vary from person to person here’s a snapshot of what we’ve seen: \| Asymptomatic \| Mild disease \| Moderate disease \| Severe disease \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| Have no symptoms \| Low fever \| Fever and chills \| Difficulty breathing \| \| \| Dry cough \| Deep cough \| Chest pain \| \| \| Fatigue \| Fatigue and body aches \| Confusion \| \| \| Headache \| Feeling unwell \| Death \| \| May spread the disease to others \| May spread the disease to others \| May spread the disease to others \| May spread the disease to others \| For most people, these mild to moderate symptoms can be treated at home with supportive care. That shouldn’t be confused as not being treated, it just means we don’t have a specific targeted medication that makes the disease go away. Resting, staying hydrated, etc. is the best course of action in these cases. A smaller percentage of individuals develop the severe disease and will need to be hospitalized. For these individuals, they may use supportive care AND additional investigational, off-label, unproven therapies to support vital organ functions. #### Q: What do you mean investigational, off-label, unproven therapies? A: Because COVID-19 is a new disease, we are still determining what treatment works best for most people. While we are still learning about COVID-19, healthcare providers have a lot of experience treating other diseases that have some similarities to the disease processes seen in COVID-19 patients. Because a percentage of patients have life-threatening illness, the medical community has launched a worldwide collaborative effort to share therapies that have not been fully tested in COVID-19 cases but offer some potential benefit based on how the drug has worked in other diseases. Some of these therapies are given as part of clinical trials where there is very closely monitored benefits and side effects such that they may ultimately be proven effective for therapy. But many patients receiving these therapies are also receiving other types of treatment and it may be hard to determine which drug is giving the best effect or it may be that the drugs are working better together. It is hard in this situation to really set up a control group as defined in most clinical trials for drugs being put through the process of meeting FDA approval for a specific treatment. These patients are given multiple drugs in an effort to save lives. This is also why the FDA has used its Emergency Use Access designation at times to allow some drug availability even though a true randomized double-blind controlled trial has not been done. It’s a lot to keep up with, but there is an amazing amount of information sharing across the world as providers try out different options and share their results with fellow providers. It is vitally important to all that if there are any negative side effects of treatments that we stop using them. #### Q: Can you give some examples of investigational, off-label, unproven therapies? A: You’ve likely heard some about these in the media. First, we are analyzing antibodies present in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. For individuals who recovered from the infection, their plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies that helped their immune system fight off the virus. It’s possible that plasma with these antibodies might help other people fight COVID-19 as well. The evidence is not clear-cut, but some patients seem to benefit. Second, we are looking at antiviral medications. In general, antivirals work by stopping the virus from spreading between cells within your body when you have already been infected. Current research recommends further study of one antiviral, remdesivir, in certain patients who are sick with COVID-19 and against using other antiviral medications, such as hydroxychloroquine. But remember that there are multiple ways to kill a virus and using drugs in combination may be the advised route. Again, there is no clinical trial to guide us here, so this is unproven, off-label, investigational but apparently helpful to an extent that ongoing trials are needed. Next, there is continued interest in anti-inflammatory medications such as tocilizumab or other steroids because COVID-19 is causing a severe immune response in some individuals. It is thought these treatments may be beneficial in some circumstances and is continuing to be studied. #### Q: What will it take for one of these therapies to become an approved therapy? A: Throughout the history of medicine, physicians have been studying treatments to see if they are effective and safe. We use off-label therapies in a variety of circumstances, such as when there are no approved treatments yet for a new disease like COVID-19. Not every person responds to the same treatment in the same way so it important to observe any treatment in a large number of individuals before making a recommendation to use it as standard care of treatment. Approved treatments have completed extensive testing and have vast scientific proof that they are safe and effective. Until these benchmarks are met, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 other than supportive care for the mildly affected and for those hospitalized with critical illness, the doctors on the front-line are using their best judgment to institute therapies at the appropriate time in the course of the disease to give benefit based on the information sharing that has been going on worldwide. *There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to avoid illness is to [avoid being exposed to the virus](https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/covid-19/prevention).* Disclaimer: The information in this article was medically reviewed and accurate at the time of posting. Because knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 is constantly evolving, data or insights may have changed. The most recent posts are listed on the [EACH Breath blog landing page](https://www.lung.org/blog "https://www.lung.org/blog"). You may also visit our [COVID-19 section](https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/covid-19 "https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/covid-19") for updated disease information and contact our Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA for COVID-19 questions. Blog last updated: October 28, 2025 [Show](https://www.lung.org/blog/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies#modaal_newslettermodal) [Show](https://www.lung.org/blog/treating-covid-19-with-off-label-therapies#modaal_altnewslettermodal) ## Make a Donation Your tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more. [Make a Donation](https://www.lung.org/donate) ## Become a Lung Health Insider Join over 700,000 people who receive the latest news about lung health, including research, lung disease, air quality, quitting tobacco, inspiring stories and more\! Thank you! You will now receive email updates from the American Lung Association. 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Readable Markdown	When COVID-19 first emerged, the recommended treatment was supportive care, which means treating the symptoms while the disease runs its course. Though this remains the approved therapy today, many alternative treatment options have been discussed in the news. This can be incredibly confusing for anyone looking to protect themselves. First of all, let’s define the term “off-label.” A drug gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on randomized, controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective to treat a specific disease. That disease is named in the FDA’s product information pamphlet for that drug and the use is considered part of the “label” for that drug’s use. A physician can use drugs that have an approved indication for one disease to treat another disease that is not stated in the FDA’s “label.” This type of use is considered “off-label” because the FDA did not say the drug was studied specifically for that other disease or indication. The American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, helped us understand more about some of the “off-label” treatments available for COVID-19. #### Q: Why is supportive care still recommended even though many people have died of COVID-19? A: Most individuals develop mild to moderate COVID-19. Though symptoms vary from person to person here’s a snapshot of what we’ve seen: \| Asymptomatic \| Mild disease \| Moderate disease \| Severe disease \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| Have no symptoms \| Low fever \| Fever and chills \| Difficulty breathing \| \| \| Dry cough \| Deep cough \| Chest pain \| \| \| Fatigue \| Fatigue and body aches \| Confusion \| \| \| Headache \| Feeling unwell \| Death \| \| May spread the disease to others \| May spread the disease to others \| May spread the disease to others \| May spread the disease to others \| For most people, these mild to moderate symptoms can be treated at home with supportive care. That shouldn’t be confused as not being treated, it just means we don’t have a specific targeted medication that makes the disease go away. Resting, staying hydrated, etc. is the best course of action in these cases. A smaller percentage of individuals develop the severe disease and will need to be hospitalized. For these individuals, they may use supportive care AND additional investigational, off-label, unproven therapies to support vital organ functions. #### Q: What do you mean investigational, off-label, unproven therapies? A: Because COVID-19 is a new disease, we are still determining what treatment works best for most people. While we are still learning about COVID-19, healthcare providers have a lot of experience treating other diseases that have some similarities to the disease processes seen in COVID-19 patients. Because a percentage of patients have life-threatening illness, the medical community has launched a worldwide collaborative effort to share therapies that have not been fully tested in COVID-19 cases but offer some potential benefit based on how the drug has worked in other diseases. Some of these therapies are given as part of clinical trials where there is very closely monitored benefits and side effects such that they may ultimately be proven effective for therapy. But many patients receiving these therapies are also receiving other types of treatment and it may be hard to determine which drug is giving the best effect or it may be that the drugs are working better together. It is hard in this situation to really set up a control group as defined in most clinical trials for drugs being put through the process of meeting FDA approval for a specific treatment. These patients are given multiple drugs in an effort to save lives. This is also why the FDA has used its Emergency Use Access designation at times to allow some drug availability even though a true randomized double-blind controlled trial has not been done. It’s a lot to keep up with, but there is an amazing amount of information sharing across the world as providers try out different options and share their results with fellow providers. It is vitally important to all that if there are any negative side effects of treatments that we stop using them. #### Q: Can you give some examples of investigational, off-label, unproven therapies? A: You’ve likely heard some about these in the media. First, we are analyzing antibodies present in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. For individuals who recovered from the infection, their plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies that helped their immune system fight off the virus. It’s possible that plasma with these antibodies might help other people fight COVID-19 as well. The evidence is not clear-cut, but some patients seem to benefit. Second, we are looking at antiviral medications. In general, antivirals work by stopping the virus from spreading between cells within your body when you have already been infected. Current research recommends further study of one antiviral, remdesivir, in certain patients who are sick with COVID-19 and against using other antiviral medications, such as hydroxychloroquine. But remember that there are multiple ways to kill a virus and using drugs in combination may be the advised route. Again, there is no clinical trial to guide us here, so this is unproven, off-label, investigational but apparently helpful to an extent that ongoing trials are needed. Next, there is continued interest in anti-inflammatory medications such as tocilizumab or other steroids because COVID-19 is causing a severe immune response in some individuals. It is thought these treatments may be beneficial in some circumstances and is continuing to be studied. #### Q: What will it take for one of these therapies to become an approved therapy? A: Throughout the history of medicine, physicians have been studying treatments to see if they are effective and safe. We use off-label therapies in a variety of circumstances, such as when there are no approved treatments yet for a new disease like COVID-19. Not every person responds to the same treatment in the same way so it important to observe any treatment in a large number of individuals before making a recommendation to use it as standard care of treatment. Approved treatments have completed extensive testing and have vast scientific proof that they are safe and effective. Until these benchmarks are met, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 other than supportive care for the mildly affected and for those hospitalized with critical illness, the doctors on the front-line are using their best judgment to institute therapies at the appropriate time in the course of the disease to give benefit based on the information sharing that has been going on worldwide. *There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to avoid illness is to [avoid being exposed to the virus](https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/covid-19/prevention).* Blog last updated: October 28, 2025
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