Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of Interferon alfa-2B in treating COVID-19; and what plans they have, if any, to use that drug.

The Department is considering carefully all available evidence around the potential of different medicines for use in treating COVID-19.

Clinical trials are being developed to assess the benefits of a number of different medicines in treating COVID-19. Further medicines may be trialled should evidence indicate to the Department that this would be an appropriate course of action.

The world’s largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus treatments is well underway in the United Kingdom as part of the race to find a treatment. A number of promising treatments are being tested and, if the science supports it, will be given to National Health Service patients as quickly as possible.