[ad_1]
Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 26
PGIMER evaluated the safety of Mycobacterium w (Mw) in four hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and found no short-term adverse effects of the drug in the pre-study phase.
PGIMER has planned a prospective randomized trial in Chandigarh together with AIIMS-Delhi and AIIMS-Bhopal to study the effectiveness of Mw in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Mw will be used as a complement to the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19.
“The impact of Mw use on long-term safety and efficacy will only be known after the conclusion of this CSIR-supported clinical trial, which will be started soon in all three centers,” a PGIMER statement said Sunday. .
According to reports, Mw, heat-killed Mycobacterium indicus pranii, was previously promoted as a vaccine against the deadly disease. However, the doctors at PGIMER clarified that it was not a vaccine.
“Mw is not a vaccine for COVID-19. It is a complementary immunomodulatory treatment (in addition to standard care) for patients with sepsis. Mw is one of the drugs that will be evaluated in patients with COVID-19, like many other treatments ( remdesivir, tocilizumab and others) that are being tested in this disease, “said Dr. GD Puri of PGIMER.
In his statement, PGIMER said: “In a recently completed multicenter trial, PGIMER found that Mw reduces mortality in ICU patients with severe sepsis. “
PGI spokesman Dr. Ashok said: “It is too early to comment on the outcome of the results and their use.”
Mw, originally developed as an immunomodulator for leprosy, acts through the toll-like receptor pathway and improves host T-cell responses. Mw may potentially decrease the cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 patients, and therefore may be of potential benefit in managing these patients and decreasing mortality.
[ad_2]
