Lots of talk about Berberine in these comments seems to follow this logic:
1. Metformin is used to treat diabetes.
2. Berberine is used to treat diabetes.
3. Metformin is effective as a COVID-19 treatment.
4. Therefore, berberine should be effective as a COVID-19 treatment.
Missing from this logic is the understanding that metformin is likely to be ACCIDENTALLY effective against COVID-19. Its mechanism of action could be very loosely related, or unrelated, to its mechanism of action against diabetes. This is true of many repurposed drug studies. We are searching for happy accidents in most cases. Berberine will not necessarily benefit from the same happy accident as metformin.
Lots of talk about Berberine in these comments seems to follow this logic:
1. Metformin is used to treat diabetes.
2. Berberine is used to treat diabetes.
3. Metformin is effective as a COVID-19 treatment.
4. Therefore, berberine should be effective as a COVID-19 treatment.
Missing from this logic is the understanding that metformin is likely to be ACCIDENTALLY effective against COVID-19. Its mechanism of action could be very loosely related, or unrelated, to its mechanism of action against diabetes. This is true of many repurposed drug studies. We are searching for happy accidents in most cases. Berberine will not necessarily benefit from the same happy accident as metformin.