As of 10th August 2020, there have been over 19 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 730,000 deaths. The United States, Brazil, India, and Russia have the most confirmed cases.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve as scientists struggle to stop its spread. This article highlights the most promising therapeutic and vaccine developments.
Repurposed Drugs
Creating a new drug from scratch is a daunting task. Because of time limitations in stopping the current pandemic, scientists are reevaluating the potential of existing drugs. Researchers have tested some readily available medications that have already passed human trials
Yale University researchers recently reevaluated 12,000 drugs that have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) They narrowed down their list to 13 drugs that hold the most potential against COVID-19. One of these drugs is LAM-002A used in the treatment of blood cancer.
Vaccine Developments
University of Texas researchers have recently developed a modified version of the coronavirus spike protein. This will help to speed up vaccine development.
Potential Vaccine Effective in Macaque Monkeys
A studypublished in Nature indicates that a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has been found to successfully protect macaques against coronavirus. This vaccine is currently undergoing human trials.
Nitric Oxide
Doctors at times use nitric oxide to treat low blood oxygen levels. Recent evidence published in the Nitric Oxide Journal indicates that nitric oxide can help to relieve some potentially fatal symptoms of the coronavirus.