Medicines for COVID-19 in view?

In a current research, a drug was identified that a key receptor blocked, the SARS-CoV-2 its hosts infected. The results of the study could lead to treatment that can prevent early infection of the novel Coronavirus.

In the investigation of the University of British Columbia, it was found that an experimental drug blocks a key receptor, which seems to stop an infection with the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The results of the study were published in the English journal “Cell”.

Better understanding of key aspects of

The results of the research could lead to a promising treatment for the novel Coronavirus. The study provides new insights on key aspects of SARS-CoV-2 and its interactions at the cellular level. In addition, the results show how the Virus blood vessels, and kidneys can be infected.

Effective drugs in the near future?

“We hope that our results will have an impact on the development of a novel drug for the treatment of this unprecedented pandemic,” says study author Professor Dr. Josef Penninger of the University of British Columbia in a press release.

What ACE2 is?

ACE2 is a Protein on the surface of the cell membrane. ACE2 plays in the case of Corona infection has a very important role, because it serves as a key receptor for the Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. In previous research already found that ACE2 is present in living organisms, the key receptor for the viral respiratory disease SARS. In experiments in the laboratory, the Protein was also with cardiovascular disease and lung failure brought in connection.

The drug APN01 really protects against COVID-19?

The new study provides the necessary proof that a drug with the name of APN01 (human recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 – hrsACE2) as an anti-viral therapy for COVID-19 is useful to explain the researchers. In the in the investigation, all analyzed cell cultures inhibited hrsACE2 the Coronavirus load factor of 1,000 to 5,000. In artificially produced replicas of human blood vessels and kidneys (Organoid), which were grown from human stem cells, showed that the Virus can infect these tissues directly and in duplicate.

Study reveals important findings

This provides important information about the development of the disease and the fact that severe cases of COVID-19 with multi-organ failure and signs of cardiovascular damage in connection. hrsACE2 reduced the SARS-CoV-2 infection in these artificially produced human tissues.

Why research on organo-halides?

“The use of organo-halides allows us to test in a very flexible way of treatments that are already used for other diseases, or shortly before the validation. In these moments, in which time is short, save a human Organoid of the time we would spend on the testing a new drug on humans,” says study author Professor Núria Montserrat from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Spain.

We will soon be able to prevent an infection?

The COVID-19-causing Virus is a close Relative of the first SARS Virus. The previous research work have helped to identify ACE2 quickly as a portal of Entry for SARS-CoV-2, which explains a lot about the disease. It is now known that a soluble Form of ACE2 could actually be a very rational therapy against the Virus, since it is specifically aimed at the gate, required by the Virus for infection. (as)