A drug used to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome is to be tested as a treatment for seriously ill Covid-19 patients, Oxford University researchers have announced.
The drug, almitrine, redirects the blood to healthy parts of the lung, improving uptake of oxygen. It does this by constricting blood vessels leading to diseased area.
The trial is being backed by a charity LifeArc.
Researcher Professor Peter Robbins said: “If almitrine can add to the overall effectiveness of respiratory support, then the hope is that clinicians will need to mechanically ventilate fewer patients, and that they will be able successfully to support more seriously ill patients throughout the course of their illness.”
* A second trial, backed by the charity, will examine whether camostat can control viral symptoms. The drug is normally used to treat pancreatic inflammation but is only licensed for use in Japan.
The trial involves Edinburgh University and Cancer Research UK.
Laboratory studies suggest the drug can prevent the virus entering human cells, researchers say.
Dr Bobojon Nazarov, founder of Latus Therapeutics, said: “Camostat belongs to the only class of drug that has a strong mechanistic basis for blocking entry of the virus into human cells. We believe this drug could be used to reduce the severity of Covid-19 infection, providing much needed time for the body’s immune system to recognise the virus and destroy it. Unlike finding a vaccine, this drug could be used quickly to help people recover from Covid-19.”
Hoffmann et al. SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibitor. Cell 2020;181: 271-280.
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