Corona virus: new drug to treat Covid-19 approved for use in Britain

The antibodies in the drug attack the Corona virus differently from the way currently available drugs, such as the drug “dexamethasone” work, which suppresses the body’s immunity and prevents the immune system from redundantly reacting to resist the virus. .

And there were concerns that the drug would fail after the first attempts to treat infected patients with antibodies taken from the bodies of other people who had recovered from the infection.

Nevertheless, the companies “Regeneron” and “Roche” were able to clone the antibodies in the laboratory, to achieve the best genetic formula to act against the virus.

Thus, the treatment became more effective and showed a great capacity to help the injured and to cope with the new constraints.

The antibodies attach themselves to the genomes of cells that the virus has used as a key to enter them.

This would prevent the virus from entering more healthy cells in the body of the infected person and prevent them from getting worse, which would give the immunity more time and a great ability to clear the virus.

“We are happy with the level of safety this drug offers,” said Samantha Watkinson, of the NHS who cleared the drug for use.

The new drug is expected to be used as soon as possible in UK health services.

The cost of the drug varies between one thousand and two thousand pounds, compared to a treatment program that is sufficient for one patient, and this is due to the fact that drugs which depend on the exact genes are more complex than well- chemical drugs known available in pharmacies.

This reinforces the idea that the new drug will not be available to everyone, but will only be used by patients with severe symptoms in hospitals.

Penny Ward, professor of pharmacy at King’s University in London, points out that the use of the treatment can be limited to hospital patients, and can be given later to those whose bodies do not respond to antiviral vaccines.

For his part, Professor Martin Landry, who led the experimental treatment team at the University of Oxford, said: “It would never be realistic with the high cost of the drug to give it to all patients, even those who can recover without needing this. “

As for AstraZeneca, he confirmed that its drug, which uses antibodies, reduces the chances of exacerbating the virus by 77%.

The company explained that the drug is injected into the body of patients and provides protection that lasts for 12 months.

As for Professor Myron Levine, who led the experimental treatment team at the University of Colorado in the United States, he said the results are “fantastic” and that the drug may become “a new tool in our arsenal. therapeutic, to help humanity, and to help the patients who suffer most to return to a normal life. “