A Positive “side effect”: A well-known medication for Depression could also help against SARS-CoV-2. Because the active ingredient fluoxetine inhibits the replication of the Coronavirus, at least in cell culture, as a study shows. Accordingly, also under the trade name Prozac well-known antidepressant medication to block the protein production of the Virus. If confirmed in animal studies, could help for a good 40 years, the approved funds Covid-19-patients.
On the search of drugs against the Coronavirus SARS-CoV 2 look for scientists not only to new resources – including well-known drugs are under the microscope. Because you have the advantage that they are already approved and their impact has already been examined. This saves time in the race with the Corona pandemic. So far, however, candidates such as the AIDS drug Lopinavir and the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine have proved to be little effective.
Antidepressants in the Corona Test
A new candidate will now have identified, however, researchers Jochen Bodem, in collaboration of the University of Würzburg. It is for a good 40 years, used antidepressants, fluoxetine also known as Prozac. This drug relieves Depression by increasing the concentration of the messenger substance Serotonin in the synapses of the brain. He thus belongs to the group of so-called Selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSSRI).
In their study, the ground, and his Team of three such SSSRI have tested drugs to see whether they can inhibit the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures. For this, you put the cells in first three days, each one of the active ingredients. The concentration corresponded to the one that is also used for the treatment of Depression. Then, the researchers infected the cell culture with the corona virus, which had been isolated from a Covid-19-patients.
Fluoxetine inhibits viral protein production
The result: Two of the three agents proved to be ineffective. The third, however, fluoxetine, blocked the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in very low concentration, the researchers report. Supplementary analyses indicated that fluoxetine inhibits apparently, the protein production of the Coronavirus. As a result, the Virus can no longer provide the components necessary to its reproduction in the host cell.
As the antidepressant achieves this effect is still unclear. The researchers assume, however, that the effect of the Fluoxetins on the Serotonin-circuit has nothing to do with it. Because then the other two antidepressants, paroxetine and Escitalopram should not have to be of similar effectiveness – which was not the case. In addition, another attempt at that level inhibit – inverted versions of fluoxetine, the virus propagation showed against Depression, like the Bodem and his Team explain, but it helps.
Specific for SARS-CoV-2
And another thing the experiments: showed that fluoxetine acts very specifically on SARS-CoV-2. In the case of other viruses, such as rabies virus, human Herpesvirus 8, or the Herpes simplex Virus, you will be able to observe, the scientists have no effects. In cell culture, these viruses multiply in the presence of fluoxetine undisturbed. “Everything speaks for that that fluoxetine virus-specific,” said Bodem.
Positive also: fluoxetine is known to reduce the secretion of Cytokines. These messengers of Immune-substances can result in Covid-19 to excessive inflammatory response. Practitioners assume that this “Cytokine storm” is responsible for many deaths due to the Coronavirus.
Suitable for the early treatment of Covid-19?
In the view of Bodem and his Team, and fluoxetine could be suitable in order for the treatment of Covid-19. To the best of their evaluation would be a use of this drug in the early stage of infection, in order to prevent patients from the risk groups a severe course. Also advantageous: Because fluoxetine is approved for 40 years, has expired, the Patent on this active ingredient. The production of the drug is therefore effective and can be worldwide.
However, the antidepressant has proved its effectiveness not only in cell culture. Now animal need to show attempts, whether fluoxetine can fight the Coronavirus in the living organism. If confirmed, could begin the first clinical studies with people. (Preprint, bioRxiv, 2020; doi: 10.1101/2020.06.14.150490)
Source: Julius-Maximilians-University Of Würzburg
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