COVID-19: active ingredient is failure for the treatment of lung tested
In the Wake of the Corona-pandemic in the world is working on strategies to curb the spread of the Virus. Above all, it urgently needs medicines that can be used in particular in severe cases the use. Researchers from Austria have now started the Tests with such a drug.
The development of vaccines against this new Coronavirus is moving forward quickly, however, it is unlikely that these will be available this year. Therefore, it is hoped that it will quicker manage to find drugs to treat already Infected. An Austrian research team is now testing an already developed active substance.
The medium was developed for the treatment of acute respiratory failure
According to a recent communication from the Medical University (MedUni) of Vienna tests in the context of a clinical trial of a potential drug for the treatment of COVID-19.
The data indicate that the synthetic peptide was originally developed for the treatment of acute respiratory failure and is now to be to patients who are suffering from COVID-19, on its effectiveness tested.
Currently, in particular medicinal products that are already approved for a different disease, or at least in development worldwide are tested against Coronavirus-related diseases. Some of these drugs can also cause serious side effects.
Active ingredient approval
As the MedUni Vienna explains, have shown previous clinical data of patients with COVID-19 in the hospital, that 20 percent of the Affected failure acute pulmonary (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, ARDS) suffering, which is often characterised by oedema of the Lungs.
Currently no drug is approved specifically for the therapeutic treatment of pulmonary permeability edema or ARDS.
The new active ingredient Solnatide, one of the Vienna-based company Apeptico GmbH, developed synthetic peptide, is being tested at the MedUni Vienna in the first COVID-19-Concerned.
“The drug has already proven effective in clinical studies for the treatment of lung failure and is on the verge of approval,” explains Markus Zeitlinger, head of the University clinic for Clinical pharmacology of the MedUni Vienna and the Director of studies.
“We are testing this now on a total of 40 subjects with Covid-19, half get the drug, and the other is associated with a Placebo-control group. Our hope is that by the Coronavirus-induced lung diseases with the new drug lighter curves show,“ says the expert.
Possible option for the treatment of severe COVID-19-gradients
The information suggests that the study has been approved, in close coordination with the ethics Commission of the medical University of Vienna, and the authorities accelerated and, together with the University clinic for Clinical pharmacology, University clinic for anesthesia, General carried out in intensive care medicine and pain therapy.
“We are particularly pleased that the year-long preparatory work in this field may be a therapy option in severe cases of Covid-19,” Klaus Markstaller, head of the University Department of anaesthesia, General intensive care medicine and pain therapy.
The active ingredient Solnatide is a synthetic peptide less than 20 amino acids. According to the communication, the expectations from previous clinical investigations are enabled, the directly in the Form of a liquid aerosol in the lower respiratory tract is introduced Solnatide the pulmonary sodium ion channel (ENaC), to enable the Clearance of the Fluid in the pulmonary alveoli directly and to reduce the Leakage of blood and fluids from the capillaries.
To reduce the extent of alveolar Edema and its resolution to accelerate. In addition to this effect Solnatide further complications, which are often observed in the case of lung failure.
Already, a clinical Phase I study in humans, passed
The drug was originally failure for the therapeutic treatment of patients with acute lung and various forms of life-threatening lung permeabilitätsödems (PPO) developed.
To orally inhaled Solnatide was already in a clinical Phase I study in humans, as well as a clinical Proof-of-Concept in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study (Clinical Phase II trial) and a Phase II pilot study in patients with pneumonia, Sepsis, ARDS, primary graft dysfunction and other causes of life-threatening Pulmonary dysfunction.
“Should be the active ingredient successfully, we rely on a fast-track approval process by the regulatory authorities,” says Zeitlinger. (ad)