Given the numerous experimental studies carried out in recent months, at a global level, it is possible that within the first half of the year new anti-Covid drugs will be available, also intended for the treatment of less serious infections. To take stock of the situation, in an in-depth study published in the journal “Nature”, Lawrence Tabak, interim director of the National Institutes of Health in the USA
The numerous studies carried out in recent months on Covid-19 could soon lead to the development of new drugs, some of which are also intended for the treatment of less serious infections. This is the scenario outlined in an article published in the renowned journal “Nature”, in which the research and experimental treatments implemented to combat the coronavirus pandemic are resumed.
The American “Activ” program
deepening
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In particular, the focus was on the so-called “Activ” program, coordinated by the American National Institutes of Health (NIH), which in the last two years has included over 30 different studies, 13 of which are in progress, conducted with the aim of identifying effective drugs by choosing them from over 800 initial candidates. Among these there are drugs designed to directly combat the virus, others developed to counter the symptoms of Covid-19 and still others developed to reduce the risk of blood clots. And many of the related studies are expected to generate results within the first half of the year. Lawrence Tabak, interim director of the National Institutes of Health, took stock of the situation, focusing only on some of the numerous researches globally oriented to the discovery of new potential treatments. “Regardless of the outcome of the results of the individual trials, 2022 should shed some light on the best way to deal with Covid-19. The next three or four months could be very exciting from that point of view, ”he reported. “Even research on drugs that show poor efficacy, in fact, can reveal important information on the ingredients not to be used and skim the set of compounds considered potentially useful,” he said again.
From Remdesivir to AZ antibodies
“The new drugs could also be essential in cases where the vaccine is less effective,” explained Taher Entezari-Maleki, of the University of Medical Sciences in Tabriz, Iran, “for example against the new variants.” Taking a picture of the situation, Nature points out that in mid-2020, scientists discovered that a specific steroid, “dexamethasone” was shown to reduce excessive immune responses, limiting the risk of severe symptoms and death. Among the drugs taken into consideration there is also the antiviral Remdesivir, until recently intended for people hospitalized due to Covid-19. And last January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Remdesivir use for the outpatient treatment of high-risk patients. Numerous companies, therefore, have dedicated themselves to the development of monoclonal antibodies, mass-produced versions of the neutralizing antibodies that the immune system produces to fight the virus. To date, more than 200 monoclonal antibodies are in development or use and among them is the combination of two antibodies, produced by AstraZeneca, and marketed as “Evusheld”, which can be administered by intramuscular injection and is been cleared by the FDA for the prevention of Covid-19 in people at high risk of exposure.
Non-hospital use drugs
deepening
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Then the scientists’ attention also turned to drugs that could also be used in non-hospital settings for the treatment of milder diseases, in order to reduce the risk of hospitalization or worsening of symptoms. At the end of 2021, for example, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid, two oral antiviral treatments that can be taken if you are treated at home, were approved. “None of these solutions is a panacea,” explained Josè Carlos Menendez Ramos, a scholar at the Complutense University of Madrid. And, according to the expert, “molnupiravir could cause mutations in human DNA, so much so that regulators have advised against prescribing it to pregnant women”. This, to underline that there is still “still a long way to go before obtaining an effective drug in every situation. There are several antivirals that target different fundamental processes for the virus, but some could be toxic and need further investigation. “
The optimism of the experts for the next few months
Finally, here is what the market could still offer. “About 40 antiviral candidates and 180 molecules are in development,” said Chengyuan Liang, of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology in Xi’an, China. In particular, there is talk of “substances that hinder the reproduction of the virus”. Among these, the most anticipated alternative is “S-217622, manufactured by Shionogi in Osaka, Japan, which is currently in an advanced clinical trial phase.” Other antiviral drugs, then, are currently under development and focus, for example, on the human proteins that the virus uses to penetrate human cells. This class includes plitidepsin, which targets the human protein eEF1A, which is important for the replication of various viral pathogens. “Drug developers still face many challenges related to Covid-19 treatment and conducting a trial in a pandemic is complicated, as new viral variants can emerge that can potentially change the spectrum of symptoms, disease severity and range. of subjects most at risk ”, concluded Tabak. “There is still a lot to experiment, there are several possible solutions, we cannot predict which therapies being evaluated will lead to the most positive results. But we are optimistic for the next few months, ”he said again.