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| With coronavirus pandemic gripping the entire world, researchers are working hard to come up with a specific treatment for the virus. |
As coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has spread across the world, researchers around the world are in a race working day and night, to find a possible cure. The researches are happening at 3 levels - finding a new vaccine, finding a new drug and checking the efficacy of preexisting drugs used for other diseases. According to health experts, once a drug is identified, atleast 12 to 18 months is required for a vaccine to pass clinical trials, get approval and be available for wide use. Therefore, by 18 months we might have a vaccine developed for the virus, which is the fastest ever for any pathogen.
Here, we include some of them, which may be in widespread use in future, if they pass clinical trials.
INO-4800 by Innovio Pharmaceuticals
Innovio Pharmaceuticals has a history of producing an effective vaccine against MERS. The company's proposed vaccine against COVID-19, INO-4800 will undergo trials later this year. So, at the moment, the vaccine is in its preclinical phase.
mRNA-1273 by Moderna Inc.
Moderna Inc. is designing a vaccine by taking a piece of genetic code for S protein on the virus and fusing it with fatty nanoparticles, which are then injected into the body.
If all its clinical trials succeed, then the vaccine could be in use as early next year.
Ad5-nCoV by CanSino Biologics
This vaccine developed by Chinese company CanSino Biologics is a genetically engineered vaccine. It has completed its first study in April and a large study is to be conducted soon.
BNT162 by BioNTech
BNT162 is a vaccine by German company BioNTech in partnership with Pfizer. It is still in its early stages and will undergo clinical testing soon.
Vaccine by CureVac
The vaccine developed by CureVac is similar to the one proposed by Moderna Inc. It is still in its preclinical phase and more information will be obtained after it undergoes trials.
Vaccine by Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is taking a different approach and is making a vector-based vaccine. It is the same approach which led to an effective Ebola vaccine.
However, the vaccine is still in its preclinical phase and will undergo trials later this year.
Vaccine by Sanofi
Sanofi also has plans to make a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. It will make a protein similar to the ones present in the virus and use it as a vaccine. More will be known after it undergoes clinical trials and results are obtained.
EIDD-2801
This drug causes damaging mutation in the virus RNA. When the virus RNA replicates with these mutations, it is no longer able to infect cells.
Favipiravir
It is a drug which has been used for treating influenza. It works by preventing the virus from replicating. A study done in March showed that the drug helped in clearing viruses from some patients. But, more extensive trials are still required before the drug can be prescribed.
Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used for treating malaria. It works by preventing the immune system to go into overdrive.
However, new researches in France have shown no positive effects in using this drug. Plus, it has also shown to cause irregular heart beats in some patients.
Colchicine
It is an antiinflammatory drug used to treat gout. Because of its antiinflammatory effect, it is seen as potentially effective in treating lung complications, and preventing death.
The drug is still in trials and further studies need to be done to understand if it can be used for COVID-19.
Losartan
It is a drug used for hypertension.
It acts by blocking ACE2 receptor, a receptor where SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to attack. But, researches have shown that using ACE2 inhibitors infact spurs the number of ACE2 receptors, thereby increasing the susceptibility of the cells to virus. So, the efficacy of the drug is in doubt.
Remdesivir
It is a drug initially designed for Ebola, but was found to be non-effective. It stops the virus, SARS-CoV-2 from replicating entirely.
Clinical trials of this drug is underway and results are expected soon. Most sources regard remdesivir as a drug with potential efficacy against the virus.
Ritonavir/Iopinavir
This drug combination is used in treating HIV and inhibits the enzyme protease.
According to research, it has not been so effective in treating coronavirus case. But, studies in Australia have shown it to be effective while combining with chloroquine.
Tocilizumab
It is a drug used for rheumatoid arthritis. It blocks a receptor in cell surface, known as IL-6 receptor. IL-6 is a protein, which when binds to IL-6 receptor, triggers an inflammatory cascade that is responsible for the severity of disease.
Sarilumab
It also blocks IL-6 receptor and is similar to tocilizumab.
These are some of the drugs and vaccines that are currently under trial. Not every one of them is included here. Many more are still in early stages and they may also be potentially effective.
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