An antiviral drug based on a traditional Mediterranean remedy is showing promising results against COVID-19 infection, scientists have reported.
Professor Kin-Chow Chang of the University of Nottingham, UK, and colleagues searched for an effective broad-spectrum antiviral drug that can target different viruses, because, as they explain: "Acute respiratory virus infections can be indistinguishable on presentation."
Such a drug could significantly improve clinical management they write in Viruses today (3 February).
They found that thapsigargin – a plant-derived antiviral – is effective at small doses against COVID-19, a common cold coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus and the influenza A virus.
The team say it is safe and effective before or during infection, for at least 48 hours after a single oral dose.
The drug is derived from the poisonous Mediterranean plant, the Thapsia, also known as the deadly carrot, and used for centuries in traditional medicines in the region.
Professor Chang believes that an antiviral of this type could potentially be made available for community use to control active infection and its spread.
He said: "Whilst we are still at the early stages of research into this antiviral and its impact on how viruses such as COVID-19 can be treated, these findings are hugely significant.
“The current pandemic highlights the need for effective antivirals to treat active infections, as well as vaccines, to prevent the infection.
"Given that future pandemics are likely to be of animal origin, where animal to human (zoonotic) and reverse zoonotic (human to animal) spread take place, a new generation of antivirals, such as thapsigargin, could play a key role in the control and treatment of important viral infections in both humans and animals."
He concludes: “Although more testing is clearly needed, current findings strongly indicate that thapsigargin and its derivatives are promising antiviral treatments against COVID-19 and influenza virus and have the potential to defend us against the next Disease X pandemic.”
Al-Beltagi, S. et al. Thapsigargin is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of major human respiratory viruses: respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus and influenza A virus. Viruses 3 February 2021
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