The SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected over 165 million people worldwide causing nearly 3.5 million deaths. Recent vaccination efforts have been hindered by multiple coronavirus variants that challenge current vaccines.
While infection generally produces a mild disease, in some patients it can develop into a severe inflammatory COVID-19 requiring medical intervention.
In a previous study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, researchers found that the new coronavirus causes abnormal accumulation of lipids, which are known to initiate severe inflammation in a process called lipotoxicity.
The team found the lipid-lowering drug TriCor (fenofibrate) as an effective antiviral last year, showing it both reduced lung cell damage and blocked virus replication in the laboratory.
These results have since been confirmed by several international research teams.
In a new study, the team reports promising results of the drug. 15 severe-hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pneumonia requiring oxygen support were treated.
In addition to the standard of care, the patients were given 145 mg/day of TriCor (fenofibrate) for 10 days and continuously monitored for disease progression and outcomes.
The team found progressive inflammation markers, that are the hallmark of deteriorative COVID-19, dropped within 48 hours of treatment.
Moreover, 14 of the 15 severe patients didn’t require oxygen support within a week of treatment, while historical records show that the vast majority of severe patients treated with the standard of care require lengthy respiratory support.
These results are promising as TriCor (fenofibrate) was approved by the FDA in 1975 for long-term use and has a strong safety record.
The team found all patients were discharged within less than a week after the treatment began and were discharged to complete the 10-day treatment at home, with no drug-related adverse events reported.
Further, fewer patients reported COVID-19 side effects during their 4-week follow-up appointment.
These findings offer promise to relieve the substantial health burdens experienced by patients who survive the acute phase of COVID-19.
The team stressed that while the results were extremely promising, only randomized placebo-controlled studies can serve as the basis for clinical decisions.
If you care about COVID drugs, please read studies about this common high blood pressure drug may prevent COVID-19 complication and findings of these drugs may reduce COVID-19 death in older people.
For more information about COVID and your health, please see recent studies about scientists find new antiviral drug to treat COVID-19, flu, other viral infection and results showing that common cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce death risk in severe COVID-19.
The study is published in Research Square. One author of the study is Professor Yaakov Nahmias.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
