Vaccines are the main line of defense against the coronavirus. Another is called medication. Drugs such as “Molnupiravir” from Merck and “Paxlovid” from Pfizer raise hopes. The company has just applied for marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Paxlovid. The experts at the EMA would now assess the advantages and risks of the preparation and make a recommendation within “a few weeks”, the authority said.
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Against the corona virus and for the immune system
German researchers have now confirmed its novel dual mode of action as part of the development of an active ingredient against Sars-CoV-2 viruses. According to the research team led by virologist Prof. Dr. Stephan Ludwig an der Westphalian Wilhelms University (WWU) Munster could this be the basis for a broadly effective drug against Covid-19. According to the university’s statement, the drug’s dual mode of action can both inhibit the multiplication of Sars-CoV-2 viruses and reduce the excessive immune response, which is a major problem in severe Covid cases. The effect has now been confirmed in experiments in cells. The data are now in the journal “Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences” been published.
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Development from Tübingen as an anti-flu agent
The active ingredient is called ATR-002 and was originally developed as an anti-flu agent by the Tübingen company Atriva developed. In the company’s research together with the Charité, it has been clinically tested against Covid-19 since April 2021. The company received 11.4 million euros in funding for this. The first data should be available in April 2022.
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In the studies in Münster, ATR-002 was effective in various cell culture models – including against all tested variants of Sars-CoV-2. The researchers are therefore hoping for broad applicability, including against future variants, and are currently trying to confirm the results in animal experiments. “Good results from the ongoing clinical study could possibly lead to emergency approval for a new, broadly effective Covid 19 drug this year,” says virologist Stephan Ludwig. One speaks of emergency registrations in the USA. In Europe, these are conditional approvals.
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The company Atriva, which is developing the active ingredient ATR-002 under the name “Zapnometinib” for use as a tablet, had already reported positive results from studies with hamsters in November 2021. According to the company, virus replication was successfully inhibited by more than 90% for all viruses tested. However, the results have not yet been published.
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Link to the study
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