WOODLANDS, Texas – A Houston firefighter's family is hoping a new drug will help him win his battle with COVID-19. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there are four hospitals across the country experimenting with the drug. Now, the company that makes the drug, NeuroRX, says they believe by using it as an injection, it can be used for conditions like bipolar depression and also respiratory distress. The department said they got approval from NeuroRX to get the drug transferred from Houston Methodist to Memorial Hermann in the Woodlands to treat Capt. Pena added that, right now, 96 Houston firefighters are in quarantine and 34 firefighters have tested positive.

HOUSTON – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has fast-tracked a promising drug to treat COVID-19 patients and it is in trial at Houston Methodist Hospital. The drug is called RLF-100 and is also known as aviptadil. It has been approved by the FDA for emergency use at multiple clinical sites in patients who are too ill to enter the FDA’s Phase 2/3 trials. According to a press release from the drug maker NeuroRX, independent researchers have reported that aviptadil blocked replication of the SARS coronavirus in human lung cells and monocytes. The drug has been successful in reducing lung inflammation and so the FDA now says any doctor at any hospital can request this treatment to help severely ill COVID-19 patients.