Cholesterol drug cuts coronavirus infection by 70%, new study finds

Research team calls for clinical trials in hospitalized COVID-19 patients after finding drug used to treat cholesterol reduced coronavirus infection by 70% in lab studies, new report shows

According to the report, findings from the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology published on Friday by researchers from the UK and Italy revealed that fenofibrate and Fenofibric acid resulted in a significant reduction in coronavirus infection in human cells when the drug was used in safe and approved concentrations, according to a press release on Friday.

“Our data indicates that fenofibrate has the potential to reduce the severity of symptoms of COVID-19 and also the spread of the virus,” Dr. Elisa Vicenzi of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan and co-author said in the statement. “Because fenofibrate is an oral drug that is very inexpensive and available worldwide, along with its history of clinical use and good safety profile, our data has global implications.”

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According to the study, fenofibrate and Fenofibric acid has been suggested to work by inhibiting the harmful overproduction of cytokines linked to coronavirus infection, treat inflammation of the airways, and may prevent blood clotting seen in the late stages of the disease in many people. COVID-19 patients, reports FOX 10.

According to the report, the team of researchers is calling for additional clinical trials to explore the drug’s use as a potential therapy for COVID-19 while studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem continue.