A study by Professor Yaakov Nahmias at the Hebrew University of Israel found that an existing cholesterol medication, fenofibrate, could ‘lower’ the threat level of Covid-19 to that of a common cold.
The results allegedly come from laboratory tests on human lung tissue infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
According to research, the virus leads to lipid deposits in the lungs. Nahmias partnered with Mount Sinai Medical Center researcher Dr. Benjamin Tenever to gain a better understanding of the attack mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 in the human body.
The researchers observed that the virus changes the lipid metabolism in the human lungs. They believe that stopping this process could help prevent the onset of problems that increase the severity of the disease.
While SARS-CoV-2 hinders the body’s ability to break down fat, fenofibrate begins this process by binding to and activating the DNA site that is blocked by the virus.
Nahmias was quoted by The Times of Israel saying: “The interesting thing about our study is that fenofibrate actually binds to and activates the same site in DNA that the virus turns off, a part of our DNA that allows our cells to burn fat.
“Virus infection causes lung cells to start accumulating fat, and fenofibrate allows cells to burn it.”
This mechanism of the drug could reduce the ability of the virus to reproduce or even make it disappear.
Nahmias added: “Your body can easily deal with the virus, all we need to do is deal with the symptoms. We need to give the body time to eliminate the virus without going into respiratory failure.
“And it is by doing this that I think we can transform it into something much less serious, something like the common cold.”
The Jerusalem Post noted that researchers are advancing the drug in animal studies in New York, USA, and intend to accelerate clinical trials in Israel and the US in the coming weeks.
