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What? Are there any drugs or vaccines for curing coronavirus?
Humanity is in battle with time for the cure of this deadly virus, and in this article, we will acquaint you with the answer to this question.
At a time when many universities and research organisations across the world are in a race to create a vaccine for COVID-19, some researchers from Australia have stated that there are two existing drugs that could be a cure for coronavirus infection. Meanwhile, WHO has also revealed plans to launch a clinical study for potential coronavirus treatments.
To Know More, Read: Biotech companies in the race to seek COVID-19 cure
Coronavirus at a glance–
The name coronavirus came from a Latin word corona that means crown because this virus is enclosed by a spiked shell and looks like a royal crown. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has named coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2).
Originated from Wuhan, China, coronavirus, which was never noticed prior to this outbreak, is a type of virus that can trigger infections in humans and animals. Inside the host, the viruses break down into cells and use these cells to replicate themselves, hence disrupting the normal body functions.
After China, where the coronavirus originated, managed to get a handle on the situation, several other nations are facing massive increase in the number of coronavirus cases, with Italy being the worst-hit country where approximately 25,000 people have caught the infection, while there are around 14,000 cases in Iran, 8,000 in Spain and over 5,000 apiece in France and Germany. The virus is spreading speedily, and there is an urgent need to stop this.
Read More: Coronavirus Triggers Fears about Chinese Economic Growth
According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, the most common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that draw on over 70,000 cases in China, are - fever (in 88% of cases), dry cough (68%), fatigue (38%) and phlegm/sputum production (33%).
Across the world, there are approximately 200,000 people that have now been affected by this deadly virus, with more than 8,000 deaths reported. Amidst mounting fears of COVID-19 pandemic, the entire pharmaceutical and biotech industry is engaged in preventing the deadly diseases, targeting to come up with an appropriate treatment option.
Meanwhile, few Australian scientists have revealed that anti-HIV and anti-malarial drugs could be used to tackle the coronavirus. At the University of Queensland (UQ), a research team of infectious disease specialists disclosed they came across two existing medications that manage to eliminate COVID-19 infections.
Also Read: Coronavirus Takes a Toll on Global Markets
Hope for treatment of COVID-19 -
The researchers and doctors worldwide scramble to discover a cure, treatment or vaccine for the deadly virus and drugs are being tested.
In Australia, the Coronavirus Action Fund has been established by the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) Foundation to raise funds for clinical study, medical research, hospital equipment and to support hospital staff. This fund plans to raise approximately $750,000 for better understanding and developing a treatment for COVID-19.
Moreover, the WHO also notified that 35 experimental vaccines are under development, including one co-developed by the government of the United States.
WHO revealed that the agency would launch a multi-arm, multi-country clinical study for potential coronavirus treatments, mentioning that the drugs to be tested are the antiviral drug remdesivir; a combination of two HIV drugs (lopinavir and ritonavir); lopinavir and ritonavir plus interferon-beta; and the anti-malarial drug chloroquine.
All the drugs demonstrate certain evidence of effectiveness either in vitro and/or in animal studies against the coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2), which causes Covid-19.
Consequently, WHO, along with its partners, is organising a study, under which a few of the untested treatments will be compared. This large, international study is intended to produce strong information that is required to identify the effectiveness of the treatment. WHO named this study SOLIDARITY trial, which offers streamlined processes for hospitals that have been overloaded to take part.
Moreover, WHO mentioned that many nations have already confirmed that they are joining the SOLIDARITY trial, including Switzerland, Bahrain, Thailand, South Africa, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, Spain and Argentina.
The organisation disclosed that within few days of the roll out of COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, more than 173,000 persons and organisations have contributed over USD 43 million. Moreover, the Director-General WHO expressed gratitude to FIFA for its contribution of USD 10 million.
On 18 March 2020, Director-General WHO, commented-
- Anti-malarial drug - Chloroquine
Anti-malarial drug Chloroquine works by protecting people against malaria infection if bitten by parasite carrying mosquito. It is not a cure for malaria but is a preventive measure against malaria infections if a person is bitten by a mosquito carrying the parasite. This drug is not a treatment for malaria but prevents the disease from developing when taken prior to, during and afterwards a person visits an at-risk region. Chloroquine works by poisoning parasites and prevents them from developing within human red blood cells (RBC).
It is also reported that Chloroquine is able to destroy viruses and in laboratory testing, researchers found that the drug could be effective against SARS-CoV-2.
- Anti-HIV drug - Lopinavir/Ritonavir
Lopinavir/ritonavir, most commonly known and sold by the name Kaletra, is an anti-HIV drug combination, which is being tested for coronavirus infection.
Kaletra is approved for use in Australia, United States and Europe. AbbVie, a biopharmaceutical company, manufactures Kaletra and has donated supplies of this drug to authorities - WHO, China and the United States. This antiviral drug can be taken two times a day by HIV-infected people in order to lessen the circulating virus levels in the body.
It is intended that regular use of the medication stops HIV progressing to AIDS and may also decrease the possibility of people transmitting the infection to others. This drug comes under the category of protease inhibitor and works by stopping viruses from using the protease enzyme, which is essential for the growth and development of the virus.
In a nutshell, when the world is fighting for coronavirus treatment, findings are a crucial step in the development of treatment or vaccine for coronavirus.
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