[ad_1]
A gout drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may show promise in the fight against coronavirus.
According to a recent University of Georgia (UGA) study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, probenecid has potent antiviral properties that make the oral drug a prime candidate for fighting not only SARS-CoV-2 infection. , but also against other common and fatal respiratory viruses.
COVID-19 KILLED ABOUT AS MANY AMERICANS AS THE INFLUENZA 1918-19
The school noted that probenecid is primarily used to treat gout and has been on the market for over 40 years, with minimal side effects for patients.
“There is really nothing to safely fight these viruses,” said Ralph Tripp, lead author of the study and leading specialist in vaccine and therapy studies at UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in a press release. “This antiviral works for all respiratory RNA viruses we’ve tested, including SARS-CoV-2. RSV, coronavirus, and influenza all circulate in the same season. The bottom line is that you potentially can reduce infections and illnesses by using this oral medication alone. “
To be effective, probenecid blocks viral replication, preventing it from infecting an individual’s cells.
In testing, UGA said, the drug works both as a prophylactic before exposure to the virus and as a post-exposure treatment, noting that the drug has also been shown to be effective in combating RSV in vitro.
TrippBio used animal models – hamsters – against SARS-Cov-2 and the flu.
“Although the drug is primarily used after a person tests positive for the virus, the prophylactic results mean that people with known exposures could also potentially take the drug to avoid getting sick,” the university said.
FDA PANEL APPROVES PFIZER’S COVID-19 VACCINE RECALL FOR PEOPLE 65 AND OVER, HIGH-RISK PATIENTS
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 676,000 Americans, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
In addition, 42,292,350 confirmed cases have been reported in the United States so far.
Treatment of those seriously ill from COVID-19 is still limited.
UGA notes that current benchmarks include remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies. Only remdesivir has received federal approval for the treatment of COVID-19.
“These treatments have shown some effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, but they are very expensive and very difficult to find,” said Tripp. “In reality, there are only a handful of options that can actually be used due to the cost, restricted IV usage, and lack of access. It’s not very useful for the world. “
The UGA compared the reuse of remdesivir to fight COVID-19 with the potential reuse of probenecid with a prescribed pill and suggested that probenecid may also increase the effectiveness of other treatments.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Researchers are studying which dosage of probenecid might be the most effective in fighting viruses, and TrippBio is expected to begin clinical trials of the drug by the end of the year.
Side effects of probenecid include nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and headache, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
[ad_2]
Source link