In a recent study published in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, researchers found a new drug combination that showed promising results in treating COVID-19.
The combined use of nafamostat and Pegasys (IFNα) could effectively suppress the infection.
One author of the study is Professor Denis Kainov.
Countries with greater resources are opening up for a more normal life. But COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus are still a big threat in large parts of the world.
The lack of medicines that are effective, easy to distribute and easy to obtain are a significant part of the problem.
Nafamostat is already in use as a drug against COVID-19 and is undergoing extensive testing in Japan, among other places. Pegasys (IFNα) is currently used mainly to treat hepatitis C.
Combining the two appears to have a positive effect. Both drugs attack a factor in the cells called TMPRSS2, which plays a critical role in viral replication.
The team also found only low doses of the combination medicine are needed. The low doses of the drugs in combination may have several clinical advantages. including fewer adverse events and improved outcomes for patients.
In other words, the combination of medicine can both save lives and make life easier for patients. Nafamostat is relatively inexpensive. The downside of Pegasys (IFNα) is its higher cost.
Officially, 4.55 million people have died from COVID-19 worldwide. But unreported numbers are most likely very large in parts of the world where the cause of death is not always accurately recorded.
If you care about COVID-19 drugs, please read studies about common diabetes drugs that could strongly cut COVID-19 death risk, and findings of this very common drug for heart disease may reduce COVID-19 risk.
For more information about COVID-19 treatment, please see recent studies about this new drug 10 times more effective fighting COVID-19 and results showing that this drug holds promise as at-home treatment for COVID-19.
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