Updated March 12, 2020, 4:34 p.m.
The SARS-CoV-2 corona virus has been traveling around the world at an unbelievable pace since the beginning of the year. Since then, experts have been looking intensively for a drug or vaccine against corona. But despite numerous researches, it will probably take a while until a drug is approved.
“At the earliest next year” is the answer of most experts to the question of when a vaccine against the coronavirus will be available. Medicines could be available more quickly, which, although they do not protect against infection, can at least mitigate the course of the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus. Above all, experts rely on using drugs that have already been tried and tested for other applications. These would then no longer have to be tested so extensively before they are approved.
Not all infected people need medication
Most people who get SARS-CoV-2 don’t need medication. According to the World Health Organization, about 80 percent of those infected recover without special treatment.
However, about 15 out of 100 infected people develop a severe course of the disease with breathing problems. Most of these are people from risk groups such as cancer patients in chemotherapy, the elderly and those with previous illnesses. There are currently no drugs specifically effective against SARS-CoV-2 available for these.
Numerous studies on vaccines and medication
So far, a lot of research has been carried out into whether it is possible to combat the coronavirus with existing drugs and active ingredients. The preparations have already been developed and investigated in connection with other diseases – including the active ingredient chloroquine, which is actually used for malaria, the hepatitis drug ribavirin and a remedy for multiple sclerosis (fingolimod).
Development of new drugs takes a long time
At the same time, the development of a vaccine against the coronavirus and specific drugs that help with the disease are ongoing. The scientists are building on the knowledge they have gained from researching the first SARS corona virus, which led to a worldwide epidemic in 2002/2003 with around 800 fatalities.
The pathogen at the time is closely related to the current corona virus. It will take many years for a drug to emerge from this research, so it will no longer play a role in the current outbreak.
After the development of an agent, it must first be extensively tested on animals and humans. It then goes through an EU approval process.
According to the German press agency, Rolf Hilgenfeld, director of the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Lübeck draws attention to another problem: “The main problem with the development of active substances against newly emerging viruses is that when you are ready to go into the to go to a clinical trial, there are no more patients. Then the outbreak is over and you may be waiting for the next patient for years. “
Policy measures
In order to advance research into the pathogen and to be able to develop treatment options quickly, the Federal Ministry of Research launched a call for funding at the beginning of the month. Up to 10 million euros are to be made available and project funds will be distributed to the researchers faster than usual. (awa / dpa)
It’s about saving time, said the Chancellor, who went to the press in Berlin together with Health Minister Jens Spahn.
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