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(MENAFN – IANS)
London, October 31 (IANS) In the ongoing fight against the novel Coronavirus, researchers have now identified a drug with the potential to provide treatment for Covid-19 about a year after it became a pandemic.
The study, published in the journal Cells, found that the approved protease inhibitor aprotinin showed activity against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, at concentrations that are achieved in patients.
According to the researchers, aprotinin sprays are approved in Russia for the treatment of influenza and could easily be tested for the treatment of Covid-19.
Aprotinin inhibits the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells and can compensate for the loss of host cell protease inhibitors that are down-regulated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“Aprotinin spray has been reported to be extremely well tolerated in influenza patients. Therefore, it may have particular potential to prevent severe Covid-19 disease when applied early after diagnosis,” said study author Martin. Michaelis from the University of Kent in the UK.
“Aprotinin has previously been shown to inhibit the TMPRSS2 gene and has been suggested as a treatment option for influenza viruses and coronaviruses. In this paper, we investigate the effects of aprotinin against SARS-CoV-2.” Michaelis added.
The findings showed that aprotinin exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in different cell types (Caco2, Calu-3 and air-liquid interface cultures of primary bronchial epithelial cells) and against four virus isolates.
“An approved aprotinin aerosol may have the potential for early local control of SARS-CoV-2 replication and prevention of Covid-19 progression to severe systemic disease,” the study authors noted.
–IANS
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