Ever since the coronavirus emerged early last year, people all over the globe have been calling for treatments and vaccines to be developed.
Now, we have more COVID-19 vaccines that we can count on our hands. As for treatments, many have tried, but coming up with an effective treatment for coronavirus infection is no easy task.
One team in the National University of Singapore might just have found one, though.
S’pore Team Used AI & Live Virus Testing to Find Effective Drugs Against COVID-19 Delta Variant
A drug cocktail developed by researchers at NUS has been found to be effective in treating patients with mild to moderate disease.
The team of researchers was led by Professor Dean Ho, director of NUS’ Institute for Digital Medicine.
Interestingly, the team used an artificial intelligence (AI) platform and live virus testing to determine the best combination of drugs to treat the disease.
As Prof Ho noted, drug dosing requires precision, which is why the team turned to AI to find the appropriate dosage.
While the AI platform, called IDentif.AI, had identified other drugs as possible treatments, such as the antiviral drug remdesivir, these drugs typically had to be administered via intravenous drip, and could not be done at home.
So, after consultation with infectious diseases experts and oncologists, the team chose 12 obtainable oral drugs to test on IDentif.AI.
The 12 drugs included antivirals and cancer medication.
Once they were identified as possible treatments on the AI platform, the drug cocktails were then tested on live coronavirus in the laboratory.
Based on these tests, the combinations were then ranked on their effectiveness in suppressing the coronavirus.
Three weeks after beginning their tests, the team discovered that when the new antiviral drug, molnupiravir is combined with baricitinib, an anti-inflammatory drug, it was effective against COVID-19.
Even better, it’s also shown to be effective against the Delta variant, which is more transmissible.
Hasn’t Been Tested on Humans Yet
It’s important to note, however, that the drug cocktail has only been tested on the live viruses in the lab, and not on humans.
The drug cocktail has to undergo clinical trials where its efficacy is studied before experts can definitively say whether or not it actually works.
That’s why Prof Ho and his team are now looking to conduct clinical trials for the drug on COVID-19 patients, even ones who are vaccinated, as long as they have mild to moderate disease.
In the meantime, the team will continue to look out for new drugs which may be able to treat COVID-19.
Antibody Drug Granted Interim Authorisation in Singapore
Earlier this month, the Health Science Authority (HSA) granted interim authorisation for the antibody-drug sotrovimab.
This will only be for use on patients above age 18 who have mild to moderate COVID-19, meaning they do not require oxygen supplementation but are at risk of becoming severely ill.
The drug mimics the immune’s system ability to fight invaders such as viruses.
If everything goes according to plan, the drug will be available at healthcare institutions by September.
Watch to the end of this video to know how viruses mutates:
Read Also:
- WHO: Delta COVID-19 Variant Becoming the Main Strain in the World
- Study Shows 2 Shots of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is ‘Highly Effective’ Against Delta Variant
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