In what can dramatically change the way Corona patients are treated and the severity of the disease, research conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem gathered early clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of an existing drug as- in the treatment of COVID-19.
The study was presented at the recent SPARK Conference on Sexual Drug Reproduction for COVID-19 by Professor Yaakov Nahmias, Director of the Center for Bioengineering at the University of York. Nahmias have already applied an established drug to treat fat buildup in human lung cells caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Initial laboratory-based results and new data from 1,500 Israel-based Corona patients have been very promising and clinical studies are expected to begin this week at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, Israel, coming together to other clinical centers throughout the United States, South America and Europe.
The study began in July 2020 when Dr. Nahmias showed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus inhibited the effective breakdown of fat inside the lungs. His research then highlighted the effectiveness of Fenofibrate (Tricor), an FDA-approved drug that has been on the market since 1975 to address this deficiency in Corona patients. The drug is traditionally designed to treat high levels of triglycerides (fats) in the blood. When applied to Corona patients, the study suggests that it stops the progression of the disease.
“We knew that the system we developed for Tissue Dynamics gave us a special place to understand how the virus works in the lungs,” explained Dr. Nahmias. the efficacy of the drug in a laboratory setting, Professor Nahmias, together with Professor Oren Shiboleth of Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv and Dr Sigal Shafram-Tikva at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, worked to collect data from 1,500 Corona patients who had a regimen of drugs designed to reduce fat loss in lung cells.
The results were clear enough. Patients who were taking the drugs to accelerate fat reduction were recovering from the lung diseases caused by Corona within a few days. The evidence even showed that mortality was zero among these patients.
“We showed that the human lungs responded to the SARS-CoV-2 virus by completely altering the metabolism, causing a large buildup of fat in lung cells. Our results show that the This unhealthy fat buildup was a critical factor in the decline of COVID-19 patients.Patients who were taking fibrates that work directly to break down fat were recovering quickly from the disease, and those who taking fat-lowering drugs such as thiazolidinediones, increased lung damage and mortality, ”Dr. Nahmias explains.
According to the research team, the implementation of the use of this established drug, which is widely available, inexpensive and has a proven safety record, could reverse the effects of COVID-19 from a devastating disease to a long-acting form. easier of respiratory cold.
In the coming days, the team will begin an Phase 3a clinician-led clinical trial, with financial support from Abbott. Taking place at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, this phase will be led by Professor Shlomo Maayan, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases.
Other clinical studies that are intended to confirm Professor Nahmias ’findings are also taking place in the US, Europe and South America. “Even as we see the introduction of several vaccines aimed at reducing the spread of the disease and protecting vulnerable populations, this drug can help with the direct treatment of the virus and reduce its severity and severity. We hope to see the first results of the clinical phase of this study in the coming months, “said Dr Maayan.
Source:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem