They then examined the effectiveness of the drugs in a range of infected human cell types, observing how well the infection replicated in infected cells after direct exposure to each medication.
The authors recognized nine drugs reliable in reducing virus replication in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells already contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. Kadler includes, “We determine drugs that stop duplication of the SARS-CoV-2 infection (which is the cause of COVID-19) in human cells in culture.
Study suggests some medications might inhibit virus replication in human cells.
Regardless of the advancement of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, effective therapies are needed till worldwide immunity has actually been attained. A study published in PLOS Pathogens by Adam Pickard and Karl Kadler at University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and colleagues suggests that some FDA-approved drugs could be safely repurposed to deal with COVID-19 infections.
The majority of the worlds population is still unvaccinated, yet there are few medications that have been shown safe, easily distributed, and efficient in reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. To identify drugs that could effectively deal with SARS-CoV-2 infections, scientists performed a screen of 1971 FDA-approved therapies utilizing a bright enzyme tagged version of SARS-CoV-2 virus in order to quantify viral load. They then evaluated the effectiveness of the drugs in a range of infected human cell types, observing how well the infection replicated in infected cells after direct exposure to each medication.
The authors recognized 9 drugs effective in suppressing infection duplication in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells already contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. However, the research study was limited because it was only performed in human cells and the drugs have yet to be tested for efficacy in dealing with SARS-CoV-2 in patients. Clinical trials are required to figure out whether the drugs appropriate therapies for COVID-19 patients.
Electron microscopy showing Vero cells infected with an NLuc tagged SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus particles are contained within intracellular compartments. Credit: Yinhui Lu, Pickard A et al., 2021, PLOS Pathogens, CC-BY 4.0
According to the authors, “Our study has actually recognized compounds that are safe in humans and show efficiency in lowering SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in human cells. As these drugs are FDA-approved and with safe dosimetry currently developed for use in clients, medical trials could be initiated for these drugs within a fairly brief time frame.”
Kadler includes, “We determine drugs that stop duplication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which is the reason for COVID-19) in human cells in culture. The drugs include ebastine, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii ( Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia, and vitamin D3, which is readily available over-the-counter, and might prove effective additions to the treatment of COVID-19. These drugs have actually not been examined in patients with COVID-19 and are not alternatives to existing treatments or vaccination programs.”
Reference: “Discovery of re-purposed drugs that slow SARS-CoV-2 duplication in human cells” by Adam Pickard, Ben C. Calverley, Joan Chang, Richa Garva, Sara Gago, Yinhui Lu and Karl E. Kadler, 9 September 2021, PLoS Pathogens.DOI: 10.1371/ journal.ppat.1009840.