A common anticoagulant drug could be replaced to help reduce Covid-19 infections

An international team of researchers led by Keele and Liverpool Universities, working with Public Health England, has discovered that the common anticoagulant drug heparin inhibits the SARS-Cov2 virus spike protein, by reducing the virus’ ability to bind to human and infectious cells.

The research, published in the journals Thrombosis and HaemostasisandBritish Journal of Pharmacology, found that heparin interacts with the surface spike protein coronavirus (SARS-CoV2), imbalancing its structure and preventing it from clogging with the ACE2 receptor on human cells.

Molecular modeling by colleagues at the University of Queensland in Australia showed how heparin can adhere to the surface of the spike protein to achieve these effects, and studies with live SARS-CoV2 virus conducted at PortonDown Health laboratory showed The English public found that heparin was inactivated (but not low molecular weight heparins) could prevent cell infection at doses similar to those currently used in clinical settings as an antidote.

Crucially, the data strongly supported a clinical trial of inhaled (“nebulized”) inhaled heparin, as the known doses delivered to the lungs would have strong antiviral effects.

Dr Mark Skidmore from Keele University’s School of Life Sciences led the research. He said: “We also know that heparins inhibit a range of other viruses, so a study of these drugs could provide new therapeutic strategies, and perhaps the first line of defense. against emerging viral threats, for example, while vaccines are developed. “

This is interesting news because heparin may be rapidly reabsorbed to help reduce Covid-19 infections, or perhaps as a prophylactic treatment for high-risk groups such as medical or care workers. . The results have also led us to study another novel heparin-like fertilizer that may be effective against SARS-CoV2. “

Jeremy Turnbull, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, University of Liverpool

Professor Miles Carroll, of the National Disease Service, Public Health England, said: “There is an urgent need for new treatments targeting the SARS-CoV2 virus. Heparin, with its well-known clinical safety profile his, certainly an interesting candidate for re-opposition to Covid- 19. “

“Covid’s pandemic has had a significant impact on the delivery of NHS services and local communities. These findings reinforce the need for further study of heparin as a treatment in Covid patients,” said Dr. Quentin Nunes, Consultant at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which is leading efforts to initiate clinical trials of nebulized heparin in ITU patients in the UK.

The early release of preview data from this studyMarch2020, now published in peer-reviewed journals, has prompted international efforts to investigate the use of heparins for the treatment of Covid-19. Further work is now underway to investigate the potential of heparin and heparin-mimicking compounds as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs for Covid-19 and other emerging viral threats. the crop.