An unexpected observation by a University of Queensland (UQ) researcher could lead to a new treatment for deadly infectious diseases including Covid‑19, pneumonia in infants and children, or viral infections caused by Ebola and hantavirus. UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology neuroscientist and biochemist Dr… Read More
A drug commonly used to treat cystic fibrosis improved outcomes for patients with severe Covid-19 pneumonia in a recent clinical trial. The drug, dornase alfa, could be used to treat other respiratory infections, according to the data from researchers at UCL, UCLH and the Francis Crick… Read More
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to half-life extended monoclonal antibody (mAb) Pemgarda (pemivibart, or VYD222) for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of Covid-19. It is approved in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older weighing at least… Read More
Biotech company ExeVir Bio has revealed new data demonstrating that its antibodies are effective in neutralising currently circulating Covid-19 Omicron variants. The company says that all authorised SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibodies that have been used in the clinic show severe to complete loss of virus neutralisation potency… Read More
Researchers have uncovered a link between antiviral drug molnupiravir and a pattern of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Molnupiravir induces mutations in the virus’s genome during replication, with the aim of damaging or killing the virus. It was one of the first antivirals available on the… Read More
In preclinical studies, a new pan-coronavirus papain-like protease (PLpro) inhibitor has shown a near complete reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the lungs. Infex Therapeutics has selected the clinical candidate for its in-house COV-X programme based on this in vivoefficacy data in a murine SARS-CoV-2 model. Read More
Biopharmaceutical company InflaRx has launched Gohibic (vilobelimab) in the US for the treatment of Covid-19. In April 2023, Gohibic was granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in hospitalised adults when initiated within 48 hours of… Read More
Gohibic (vilobelimab) has been granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Covid-19 in hospitalised adults. The monoclonal anti-human complement factor C5a antibody should be initiated within 48 hours of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or… Read More
A monoclonal antibody to prevent Covid-19 in vulnerable patients, AZD3152, has entered clinical trials less than 12 months after discovery. AstraZeneca has initiated the SUPERNOVA Phase I/III trial of AZD5156 (a combination of AZD3152 and cilgavimab) in pre-exposure prophylaxis of Covid-19, following the company licensing AZD3152 from… Read More
New research suggests messenger RNA can be effectively used as a ‘universal’ therapy against different coronaviruses. A scientist at Oregon State University has demonstrated in a mouse model that it’s possible to prompt the production of a protein that can block multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2… Read More
