Treatments

Severe cases of COVID-19 result in uncontrolled inflammation leading to thrombosis (formation of blood clots) in several organs. These risks are generally assessed by levels of specific circulating biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein or D-dimer. As a precaution, patients may be given preventative treatments based on heparin and low molecular weight derivatives (pharmacological thromboprophylaxis), in […]

Tofacitinib is an oral medicine, initially used against auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, modulating immune system and inflammatory responses. In severe cases of COVID-19, the clinical symptoms are principally due to an immune response exacerbated by what we call a cytokinetic storm. Tofacitinib may improve levels of inflammation in patients. A study carried out […]

 The urgency created by the pandemic and the absence of specific medicines meant that previously known molecules have been tried out as treatments. More than 1974 molecules have shown in vitro efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. Notably, those molecules targeting the sigma receptors (chloroquine, haloperidol, clemastine, PB28) modulate viral infection, but their mechanisms remain unknown. This figure […]

Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 reproduces so as to spread its genetic material. During its replication cycle, certain non-structural proteins (nsp7, 8, 12) assemble to form the viral polymerase (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RdRp) that enables the transcription and the replication of the viral genome. It interacts with another viral protein, the helicase nsp13, located upstream, which […]

Age is one of the principal risk factors in the majority of chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the particular vulnerabilities of elderly people. Reducing the impact of age may, therefore, allow more effective treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Cellular senescence is the biological process of cell aging, which […]

Nanobodies are small monomeric antibodies from camelids, able to attach themselves to antigens (see News-COVID-19.info letter May 3 – 9 2021). These nanobodies are able to reach targets that are inaccessible to conventional antibodies. Several nanobodies have been adapted so that they are effective against SARS-CoV-2 in humans. But they remain difficult to produce from […]

Almost all the therapeutic neutralising antibodies that have been clinically tested are IgG antibodies (or G immunoglobins, that represent more than 75% of antibodies present in serum), administered intravenously. But the IgG antibodies are less effective in reaching the mucous membranes and must therefore be given in high dosages to attain required levels in the […]

Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 evolves in order to adapt to its environment. Certain current variants can escape not only the antibodies produced either by vaccination or infection, but also the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used in emergency treatment. Worse still, this evolution may be caused, through selection pressure, by those same antibodies given as treatment. The […]

During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been much talk about monoclonal antibodies (mAb). The technique, however, is not new. Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionised the treatment of many illnesses such as cancer, auto-immune and inflammatory illnesses, and infectious diseases, and they can limit transplant rejection. Early serotherapy dates back to 1890, since patients could acquire passive […]

Some patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 require hospitalisation, since the . illness may get worse to the point of causing severe respiratory failure. In patients with severe forms of COVID-19, immunomodulatory drugs such as corticosteroids may help reduce the number of deaths. However, antiviral medicines such as Remdesivir do not reduce mortality, but only the number […]