Study: Metformin cut risk of long COVID, death by 53% 

U.S. patients prescribed metformin ─ a drug for treating prediabetes and type 2 diabetes ─ within six days of a COVID-19 infection were less likely to develop long COVID or die, a study in the Journal of Medical Virology found. Metformin prescription was associated with a 53% reduction in long COVID or death over six months in patients, who primarily were infected with the Omicron-variant strain. Researchers used electronic health record data to compare 248 people who received a metformin prescription within six days of diagnosis with 248 people who received other prescriptions for experimental treatments within six days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 18 million people, or 5-7% of U.S. adults, experience long COVID. There is no treatment or cure. (CIDRAP news article, 11/4/26)