Scientists have successfully tested the Ukrainian drug for its ability to influence COVID-19
The Ukrainian drug has been tested on a coronavirus model and scientists see encouraging results.
Ukrainian scientists told about the results of the research of the State Institution «L.V. Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, which showed the ability of an active substance of Ukrainian production to influence the coronavirus.
They told about it during a press conference at UNIAN.
So, one of the stages of research in the course of which the ability of some antiviral drugs to influence coronaviruses was completed recently.
Director of L.V. Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine Viktoria Zadorozhna noted that the drug “Proteflazid” was studied – a medicine registered in Ukraine since the late 1990s, and its research at the Institute began at early 90’s.
“It is a herbal preparation … It has been proven – both experimentally and then in our clinic – its positive effect on viral infections. In the early 2000s it was shown its effectiveness against hepatitis B, then – against herpes virus infections, and in our clinic this drug is successfully used now for the treatment of persistent infections”, she said.
At the same time, said Zadorozhna, they were approached by representatives of the enterprise that produces “Proteflazid”, with a proposal to conduct research on the model of coronavirus.
“There is no SARS-2 coronavirus in Ukraine at present, and it is very dangerous to work with it, the virus itself. Therefore, studies were carried out on the model of pig gastroenteritis coronavirus,” the director of the Institute explained.
She added, it’s also a coronavirus, but another. “And we have very promising results: on the cell culture, the virus title has been reduced several thousand times, which suggests that in natural conditions, that is, in the treatment or prevention of diseases associated with coronavirus, it can also be effective”, said Zadorozhnaya.
At the same time, she noted, scientists cannot say that it will be 100% effective against the coronavirus that currently dominates the world.
“But there is not a single drug in the world to prove its effectiveness in treating or preventing this disease,” said the director of the Institute, adding that all countries are testing the medicines they have for treatment.
Thus, the action of active substances has been studied in several directions – by molecular modeling (molecular docking) directly with a computer model of coronavirus 2019-nCoV, molecular, as well as testing the action on two cell cultures infected with coronaviruses “related” from 2019-nCoV.
Studies have shown, in particular, that the active substance has demonstrated effective inhibition of coronavirus replication in cell cultures. It is also noted that the specified active substance significantly reduces the percentage of apoptotic cells compared with cells infected with the virus, almost more than 2 times, which saves half of the cells infected with the virus from death. That is, it is highly likely that the active substance under study will be able to inhibit the reproduction of coronaviruses in the body.
Oleksandr Grinevich, Deputy CEO of Ecopharm, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Scientist of Ukraine, stated: “My colleagues found a model of a Chinese coronavirus, a computer model of this virus, and, using the docking method, showed that the active substance of our drug reliably interacts well with one of the vital centers of the model for this virus. So it blocks it”.
Thus, it was concluded that “there are theoretical prerequisites that our drug can be active in cell cultures”. “There is also an effect on the coronavirus model, and there is an effect on cell cultures. So, this is the theoretical basis that our drug may work,” Grinevich said.
Head of the Laboratory for Experimental Chemotherapy of Viral Infections of the Gromashevsky Institute, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Svitlana Rybalko noted that the results of studies on pig coronavirus are likely to be reliable even when tested on topical coronavirus.
Also, the head of the scientific department of intensive care and detoxification of the Gromashevsky Institute, Doctor of Medical Sciences doctor-anesthesiologist of the highest category Sergiy Borschov emphasized: “It is by no means a panacea and medicines with proven action against coronavirus. Because there is no such medicine at present in the world. All the recommendations that our colleagues from China, Spain, Italy, the United States have provided us – all of these recommendations are based only on, let’s say, the conclusions that have been made for themselves by any experts who have dealt with this”.
According to him, some of the drugs referred to in the recommendations, in particular, Chinese doctors, did not show their properties when tested.
“We have in stock a drug that according to our preliminary data… Those (patients – UNIAN) who used it, were significantly less sick, (rarely – UNIAN) were exacerbated as a herpes virus infection, and significantly less likely to suffer from any respiratory infections,” Borshchov said.
He noted that studies have shown that the drug has a preventive effect on viruses – “we have no doubt”. At the same time, there are “certain differences” regarding its therapeutic effect.
“If the patient has a really serious condition and pneumonia has occurred, not only pneumonia but also caused by distress syndrome, then, unfortunately, any antiviral drugs used in the world … will not help in this situation,” Borschov stressed.
He added that there were no publications regarding the serious side effects of the study drug. It is also used in pediatrics.
In turn, the President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of NAMSU, Honored Scientist and Technician of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Vitaliy Tsymbalyuk noted that 9 doctoral and 38 PhD theses have been written on the basis of the study of this drug.
“Including the use in complex treatment of children with distress syndromes. Especially in newborns. And they all showed high performance. Especially, with these different viral diseases, such as herpes are diverse, hepatitis, Epstein-Barr … There is a proven real effectiveness of this drug,” he said.
Tsymbalyuk added that the question is how effective it will be for coronavirus. “I think that if it acts on other viruses, it will surely have an effect on the coronavirus as well,” said the president of NAMNU.
In addition, Anatoly Novik, the founder and president of the pharmaceutical company Ecopharm, stated that their company could produce “1 million 200 thousand doses for 30 million needed”.
“It’s not on the market today, you won’t find it in pharmacies,” he said, urging the authorities to pay attention to this issue.
At the same time, Novik noted that they were willing to provide this drug for free to hospitals and doctors. However, according to him, if another state applies to the enterprise for humanitarian aid, then they will provide this medicine to them.
“We have translated the English language and sent it to some embassies in some European countries. If the Embassy responds first of all to our authorities, I guarantee that I will provide: Switzerland so Switzerland, Germans so Germans – I will deploy everything I have in stock and give humanitarian assistance,” Novik said.
Source: unian.ua
