[ad_1]
One of the main problems facing the fight against Covid-19 is the lack of medicines that can cure the disease. Scientists have tested the drugs used to treat other diseases, but none, so far, has worked entirely satisfactorily. In a study published yesterday in the American journal Science, Chinese researchers show encouraging effects on a different front from research: with molecules not yet prescribed for medical purposes. For the team, the results obtained in animals indicate that this compound is promising for studies with humans.
Each virus has peculiarities, but there are elements that are similar among these microorganisms. Researchers know, for example, that antiviral drugs are effective when they block the pathogen’s main protease, an enzyme that processes essential proteins for its development. Therefore, the authors of the new study decided to test molecules that could act on the main protease of Sars-Cov-2. “The main protease (Mpro) of Sars-Cov-2 is a key enzyme, it plays a central role in mediating viral replication and transcription. We designed and synthesized two compounds, 11a and 11b, targeting Mpro, “the study authors detail in a statement, led by Wenhao Dai, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In laboratory tests, both inhibitors successfully interrupted the main activity of the Covid-19 virus protease, showing good antiviral activity. Compound 11a achieved better results when tested in rats. “Due to the extremely positive results in the use of 11a, we started a second stage of testing with more animals, with a primary focus on toxicity,” say the scientists.
In this phase, 11a was administered to rats and dogs, with positive results again: elimination of the virus, without collateral damage. The authors believe that this compound is a promising candidate for drugs to treat Covid-19 in humans. “By administering doses made during the analyzes, we were able to observe that only one of the rats died, and this happened when we used much higher doses. This shows us that 11a deserves to be better studied and that its potential for testing in humans is great, ”they justify.
More tests
Werciley Junior, infectious disease specialist and head of the Infection Control Commission of the Hospital del Hospital Santa Lcia, in Braslia, believes that the study is one of many studies that will emerge in the coming months, with promising molecules to combat Covid- 19. “It is still too early to say that these discoveries will become drugs, but this is the path I must take to reach new drugs. Many similar studies are underway and I think we will soon see similar results from other potential candidates for remedies for this disease, ”he says.
The Brazilian specialist points out that the virus replication base is the main objective to study in search of drugs. “The remedy needs to bind and cause a reaction to this protease, but it is often difficult to ensure that this has occurred. In the case of HIV, we had some medications that initially seemed to carry out this step, but this did not happen as expected. More evidence is needed to be absolutely sure of this efficiency, ”he reflects.
According to the infectologist, the Chinese team needs to carry out more tests on animals to follow the clinical tests. “It is necessary to evaluate this efficiency in more, larger mammals and, only then, can we analyze the effects in humans with more security,” he explains.
