Cholesterol drug reduces coronavirus infection by 70%, researchers say

A drug to treat cholesterol has been shown to reduce coronavirus infection by 70% in laboratory studies, with researchers calling for additional clinical trials in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

A team of researchers from the UK and Italy published results in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology on Friday, concluding 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 long history of clinical use and good safety profile, our data have global implications.”

The team called for additional clinical trials to explore the drug’s use as a potential therapy for COVID-19, while noting that studies are underway at the University of Pennsylvania and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr Farhat Khanim of the University of Birmingham, and author of the corresponding study, cited viral variants that have led to increased rates of infection and deaths in countries around the world.

“While vaccination programs will hopefully reduce infection rates and the spread of the virus in the longer term, there is still an urgent need to expand our drug arsenal to treat SARS-CoV positive patients. -2, “Khanim wrote.

Another author noted that significant proportions of populations in most low- and mid-level countries are unlikely to be vaccinated until 2022.

“Although vaccination has been shown to reduce infection rates and disease severity, we are not yet sure how strong and how long the response will be. Therapies are still urgently needed to help. managing COVID-19 patients who develop symptoms or require hospitalization, “Dr Alan Richardson, from Keele University in the UK, wrote in part.

It has been suggested that the drug works by inhibiting the harmful overproduction of cytokines linked to coronavirus infection, and also treats inflammation of the airways. Additional properties could prevent blood clotting seen in the late stages of the disease in many COVID-19 patients, the study authors noted.