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A drug acts as a gatekeeper. The other as a bodyguard.
Together, they become a treatment that will prevent the coronavirus from making us sick.
NTNU researchers have experimented with various drug combinations that give hope for a faster, healthier world.
In two to four months, tests will probably begin in patients with a crown.
Five promising combinations
Therefore, NTNU has not developed new drugs, but has brought together drugs that have been used in the past, among other things, to treat other viruses.
– From what we have seen, a selection of drugs has a moderate to good effect in preventing the virus from infecting lung cells, says Magnar Bjørås, professor at NTNU and Oslo University Hospital.
HUNTING MEDICINE: Professor Denis Kainov (left) has been at the forefront of the research team that since March 2020 has conducted extensive laboratory experiments in the search for coronary drugs. Here with Professor Magnar Bjørås.
Photo: Idun Haugan / NTNU
The researchers combined more than 200 different drugs in all possible varieties.
They have come up with five combinations that are promising.
The goal of using two drugs versus one is to attack the virus from multiple fronts.
The janitor and the bodyguard
Against the corona, the guardian drug should prevent the virus from entering the cells.
But because the cells cannot shut down completely, they need a supply of nutrients, the virus can still penetrate.
The bodyguard’s medicine must take the invaders.
This prevents the virus from copying itself.
WITH AND WITHOUT VIRUSES: Microscopic images show a mini lung before and after coronavirus infection. Blue is cool, red has a crown.
NTNU
NTNU researchers have so far conducted experiments on simple lung cells and more complex mini-lungs (organoids) that have been grown in the laboratory. There have also been some experiments on animals.
BEFORE AND AFTER MEDICINE: Microscopic images show what happens to the corona-infected mini lung after receiving one of the drug combinations.
NTNU
The most effective treatment is carried out at an early stage of the disease: before the coronavirus manages to spread to the respiratory tract and lungs.
If the results of clinical studies are as good as experiments have shown so far, treatment could have a big impact on how the world looks in the future.
Fewer infections and fewer deaths
– Treatment will be very important for Norway, but perhaps even more so for other countries that are struggling more with hospitalizations and severe coronary heart disease and death, says Bjørås.
The results can be shorter hospital stays, lower risk of late effects after illness, less infection in society, and less need to shut down.
The combination of medications will also reduce the doses, which in turn reduces the side effects in the patient.
GROWING LUNGS: PhD fellow Erlend Ravlo and researcher Wei Wang are part of the research group in the lab where they grow mini lungs.
Photo: Idun Haugan / NTNU
The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and the drug Remdesivir have been tested as a treatment for COVID-19. Research has shown that these do not work.
It does not replace the vaccine
Effective medical treatment of the coronavirus is not a substitute for the coronary vaccine.
To regain daily life, it must be a supplement to the vaccine.
– This is a treatment for those who are already infected with corona, emphasizes Bjørås.
NTNU has also previously done significant work on the corona pandemic. Among other things, they have developed a test method that has been used in countries around the world.
Ready in 2021?
The NTNU is not alone in exploring anti-corona drug combinations. Researchers from around the world are working on this now.
This combination is also done to control the HIV virus. There is no cure, but using different medications together means that people today can live well with the disease.
Bjørås is excited about who will finally find the best solution against the crown.
And believe it will happen during the year.
– Many see that this is the way to go to obtain a treatment that is effective enough. I think we will have combination treatments for the crown during 2021.
