A newly discovered small molecule can be sprayed into people's noses to prevent disease before exposure to COVID-19, according to a study of mice (K18-human ACE2 transgenic mice) led by researchers at Cornell University.
And provide early treatment soon after infection
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The study, published in the journal Nature, used laboratory mice implanted with human coronavirus receptors on their cell surfaces and found that a molecule called N-0385 inhibits the virus's entry into human cells
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At Cornell University, N-0385 was shown to protect mice from infection prior to exposure, while providing an effective treatment 12 hours after exposure
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The molecule was developed in collaboration with researchers at the Université de Sherbrooke Institute in Quebec, Canada
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The treatment promises to prevent disease and reduce the severity and mortality of post-COVID-19 infection with just a few daily doses
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"Few, if any, small-molecule antiviral drugs have been identified that can prevent infection," said Hector Aguilar-Carreno, associate professor of virology and the paper's senior author
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"This is the first time," Aguilar-Carreno said
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"One advantage is that it works early in infection, even after someone has already contracted the virus
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The broad-spectrum therapy was tested in mice with the first strain detected in Washington state in 2020, as well as the Delta strain, but it has not been tested on the Omicron variant, although researchers will remain effective.
optimistic attitude
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The researchers introduced small molecules intranasally into mice before, during, and/or after infection
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They tracked the weight of the mice -- because weight loss is a signal of infection and a good indicator of disease -- and other clinical and pathological measures, such as temperature and mortality, as well as mouse tissue analysis to understand small How did the mice respond
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The therapy prevented mice from losing weight before they were exposed to the coronavirus, as well as dying after infection
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Even 12 hours after infection, the treatment showed very good efficacy, Carreno said
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California-based EBVIA Therapeutics is currently raising funds for human trials, drug development, formulation and large-scale manufacturing
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If funding is raised soon, and if human trials are successful, the therapy is expected to be submitted to the FDA for emergency use approval within at least six months
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"Compared to other novel coronavirus treatments such as monoclonal antibodies, N-0385 therapy is simpler and less expensive to mass-produce," Aguilar-Carreno said
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Nature
DOI
