:format(jpg):watermark(cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ipmgroup/5IDEBLR7ERC5TMAPLOHS63MVNM.png,0,30,0)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ipmgroup/AIYSMDCTEBDJXNSE55KDW7JDN4.jpg "A solution against the dengue virus? KULeuven announces the discovery of an antiviral")
A great medical breakthrough and a world first. Researchers at the University of Louvain have developed a new antiviral active against the dengue virus, a tropical disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is the culmination of 12 years of research work, resulting from a collaboration between researchers from the Rega Institute and CD3 (the Center for Drug Design and Discovery), the results of which have been published in the review Nature.
This antiviral was designed as an oral medication that is effective against all known variants of the virus. While it does not prevent the virus from entering human cells, it acts on the reproduction of the virus. Tests carried out on mice were conclusive: the number of viral particles in the blood dropped within 24 hours of starting treatment. Janssen Pharmaceutica has joined forces with KULeuven to now carry out clinical trials on humans. The company is expected to report results in mid-November.
Dengue fever is rife in tropical regions, particularly in Asia and Latin America, and causes powerful symptoms, which can be fatal: high fevers, headaches, nausea and vomiting, rash … According to the WHO, we there are 390 million cases of dengue fever per year worldwide. Thousands of people die from it every year. There is currently no antiviral drug to prevent or treat dengue.
Tests in mice have also shown that the drug can be used preventively. People living in areas where a dengue fever epidemic is underway could use the antiviral to protect themselves. “Travelers or NGO staff going to high-risk areas could also take the drug as a preventive measure. In principle, we could develop tablets that would have to be taken once a day, as is already the case. for malaria, ”explains Professor Neyts, who co-led the study.
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