Luis Gonzalez, P harmaceutical-Chemist of the Universi dad de Magallanes, explained that Sildenafil, better known as Viagra, would favor a vasodilator effect at the pulmonary level, inducing a better oxygenation of the patient.

The search for a drug that can improve treatment in a patient diagnosed with Covid-19 continues. Now, the Hospital Naval Almirante Nef in Viña del Mar, Chile, has started an investigation with the drug Sildenafil or Viagra, which seeks to prevent infected people from requiring mechanical ventilation.

For now, these are clinical trials, and it is necessary to make clear that the drug does not kill the virus, but it would improve the management of patients.

In a first stage, 40 patients will be recruited, 20 will be given a placebo drug without effect, and the other 20, Sildenafil for a period of 7 days.

The Pharmaceutical-Chemist of the Univer sidad de Magallanes, Luis González, explained that the drug is used for patients who, due to their pulmonary risk profile and the presentation of the disease, have a high probability of falling into a critical condition.

"One of the main concerns with this disease is that lung function in patients goes declining more and more, because an inflammatory process is generated affecting the respiratory tract and causing patients to end up requiring mechanical ventilation", said González.