In a new study from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, researchers found a drug that can prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from binding to human cells, potentially preventing damage to the lung, clot formation and the development of sepsis.
The researchers found that a mutation, present in all the variants of the virus to date, creates an additional binding site in the virus’ spike protein.
This additional binding site increases viral impact in the body, including damage to the lung tissue that causes breathing problems in COVID-19 patients.
The strong damage to the lung tissue allows the virus to spread from the lungs to the bloodstream, where it can cause clots and vascular damage.
In pre-clinical testing, the team found a drug called cilengitide successfully prevented the virus from causing tissue damage in COVID-19 by stopping the virus from sticking to the cell types that line the lungs and blood vessels.
They say more pre-clinical and clinical testing is needed before this treatment can be used on patients, but the results are very promising.
It is imperative that researchers continue to develop treatments for COVID-19 for the many people who will not have access to vaccines and for patients with breakthrough infections.
The research suggests that cilengitide has the potential to significantly reduce the deaths associated with COVID-19.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about people with severe COVID-19 have too much of this stuff in blood and findings of this nutrient supplement may help prevent severe COVID-19, boost recovery.
For more information about COVID and your health, please see recent studies about common diabetes drug could strongly cut COVID-19 death risk and results showing that this new drug 10 times more effective fighting COVID-19.
The study is published in PLOS ONE. One author of the study is Professor Steve Kerrigan.
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