A drug which is used to treat coronavirus infection in cats could be an effective treatment against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused the global pandemic.
This is the finding of a study published in the journal Nature Communications. It will pave the way for human clinical trials of the drug, a protease inhibitor called GC376, the Hindustan Times has reported.
“This drug is very likely to work in humans, so we are encouraged that it will be an effective treatment for COVID-19 patients,” said Canada’s University of Alberta professor Joanne Lemieux.
Researchers said thorough clinical trials will have to be carried out before it can be said for sure that the drug is safe and effective for treating COVID-19 in human beings.
“Until an effective vaccine can be developed and deployed, drugs like these add to our arsenal of Covid-19 treatments,” said Aina Cohen, of the US Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
“We are thrilled to learn of these important results and look forward to learning the outcome of clinical trials,” she said.
