Damon Mcknight
Australian researchers have claimed to have found a cure for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, using two existing drugs: an HIV medication and an anti-malarial medication. The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research director Professor David Paterson said that the two drugs wiped out the virus in test tubes, and that one of the medications, given to some of the first people to test positive for COVID-19 in Australia, resulted in the 'disappearance of the virus' and complete recovery from the infection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Status | Possible cure found |
| Type of medicine | HIV medication and anti-malaria treatment |
| Medicine name | Kaletra and hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine |
| Number of patients treated | Few |
| Outcome | Successful |
| Next steps | Clinical trial |
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What You'll Learn
HIV medication Kaletra used to treat COVID-19
In the race to find a cure for COVID-19, scientists and doctors have been experimenting with existing drugs to treat the novel coronavirus. One such drug is Kaletra, an HIV medication that combines two drugs: lopinavir and ritonavir. Lopinavir is the active antiviral drug in Kaletra, while ritonavir delays the breakdown of lopinavir and raises its levels in the body, allowing for once- or twice-daily dosing.
Kaletra was first used to treat SARS-CoV-1 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-1) in 2003 when the virus first appeared in East Asia. It was also used during the MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) outbreak, another coronavirus that caused severe respiratory illness. In both cases, the drug was used to block the virus from replicating and infecting cells.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaletra has been used as a potential treatment, particularly in Australia, Canada, and Spain. Some patients in Australia who were among the first confirmed cases of coronavirus were successfully treated with Kaletra in combination with hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug. Similarly, in Seville, Spain, a patient was treated with Kaletra, which showed promising results, according to Albert Bosch, president of the Spanish Virology Society.
However, the effectiveness of Kaletra against COVID-19 has been questioned. Doctors reviewing data from the Lotus study commented that lopinavir may not be particularly potent against SARS-CoV-2 due to the relatively high concentration needed to inhibit viral replication. Nevertheless, it is still possible that Kaletra may be beneficial under certain circumstances, such as when used early in the course of the disease or in combination with other potential treatments.
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Anti-malaria medication hydroxychloroquine used to treat COVID-19
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries, including Australia, began to experiment with the use of anti-malarial drugs to treat the novel coronavirus. The drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were used in the hopes that they could treat COVID-19, either as monotherapies or in conjunction with azithromycin.
In Australia, some of the first COVID-19 patients were administered hydroxychloroquine, and they completely recovered with all signs of the virus "disappeared [ing]". However, it is important to note that these early treatments were not conducted in a controlled or comparative manner.
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that has been widely used to treat rheumatic disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda, as well as certain infections such as Q fever and certain types of malaria. It is also used to treat primary Sjögren syndrome and post-Lyme arthritis.
While hydroxychloroquine was initially recommended for the treatment of mild COVID-19 cases in India in 2021, its use for this purpose has since been revoked. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 in June 2020, stating that it was "no longer reasonable to believe" that the drug was effective against COVID-19 or that its benefits outweighed the known and potential risks. The FDA cited the risk of serious heart rhythm problems and other potentially deadly side effects as reasons for revoking its authorization. Similarly, the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore cannot approve chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for routine use in COVID-19 infections due to the lack of clinical trial evidence and the potential risks involved.
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Clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments
Clinical trials are an essential tool in the fight against COVID-19, enabling researchers to understand the safety and efficacy of potential treatments. Linear Clinical Research, a pioneer in early-phase clinical trial services in Australia, conducts rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure patient safety and enhance treatment outcomes.
In the search for effective COVID-19 treatments, several drugs have been investigated through clinical trials in Australia. One notable example is the use of existing drugs, HIV medication Kaletra and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, to treat COVID-19 patients. Australian researchers claimed that these drugs successfully stopped the coronavirus in test tubes, and they proceeded to initiate a clinical trial on humans.
Another potential treatment that has undergone clinical trials in Australia is LAGEVRIO (molnupiravir), an oral medication developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd. In January 2022, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted provisional approval for this treatment, subject to strict conditions and ongoing clinical trials. LAGEVRIO is intended for adults with COVID-19 who do not require oxygen therapy but are at increased risk of hospitalisation or death.
While certain vitamins and supplements, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc, have been suggested as alternative treatments for COVID-19, comprehensive reviews and clinical trials have found insufficient evidence to support their use. Similarly, ivermectin, a medication used to treat parasitic diseases, has shown antiviral activity against COVID-19 in laboratory settings, but clinical trials have not provided sufficient evidence of its benefits at safe doses.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolved, Australian researchers and medical professionals remained committed to advancing clinical research and contributing to the global effort to identify safe and effective treatments for the disease.
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Repurposing antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, the global movement to develop vaccines has been working at an unprecedented rate. However, as of September 2020, a drug or vaccine is yet to be discovered to treat COVID-19. Hence, repurposing existing drugs is a novel approach to treating COVID-19 patients.
In Australia, researchers have claimed to have found two drugs to fight the coronavirus: an HIV medication and an anti-malaria medicine. The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research Director David Paterson told news.com.au that the two drugs, which were used in test tubes, stopped coronavirus in its tracks and a clinical trial on humans was ready to begin. The two drugs are Kaletra, an HIV medication, and hydroxychloroquine, a malaria treatment. Paterson said one of the medications had been administered to some of the first few COVID-19 patients in Australia, and that they had completely recovered after all signs of the virus "disappeared".
Hydroxychloroquine was initially widely considered as a potential treatment option, however, it ultimately proved ineffective against COVID-19. Other drugs being evaluated as potential treatment options include broad-spectrum antiviral agents (BSAAs), such as Gilead's remdesivir, which is being utilized for COVID-19 patients suffering from mild to moderate symptoms. Favipiravir, initially approved for therapeutic antiviral activity against influenza, is also being evaluated for COVID-19. Umifenovir, a small indole-derivative molecule that can block virus entry into target cells while inhibiting the synthesis of viral RNA, is another potential candidate.
Ivermectin, a drug widely used for the treatment and control of several neglected tropical diseases, is believed to work by binding and destabilizing cell-transport proteins involved in nuclear entry. In an observational multicenter study with 1,400 patients that is currently under review, treatment with ivermectin was associated with a lower death rate and shorter hospital stays.
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The impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the travel industry, bringing international travel to a standstill and severely affecting the tourism sector. While the pandemic has disrupted all major industries, the travel industry has been one of the hardest hit due to the highly infectious nature of the virus and the subsequent implementation of travel restrictions and border closures.
The airline industry has been decimated by the pandemic. Flight suspensions and route cancellations have become commonplace, with airlines facing the difficult decision of discontinuing routes or operating at a financial loss. For instance, American Airlines reduced its departures from New York's LaGuardia Airport from 170 flights in April 2019 to just eight in April 2020. Airports have also been significantly impacted, with Heathrow Airport closing one runway and Paris Orly Airport shutting down entirely.
The tourism industry has not been spared either, with countries heavily reliant on tourism expected to suffer prolonged negative consequences. Tourist arrivals have plummeted worldwide, falling by more than 65% in the first half of 2020 compared to the previous year. Tourism receipts are not anticipated to rebound to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, indicating the lasting effects of the pandemic on this sector.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also altered consumer behaviour and preferences, with people becoming more cautious about travel and prioritizing safety. This shift in mindset is likely to persist even after the pandemic subsides, influencing the future of the travel industry.
While the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry has been overwhelmingly negative, there may be some opportunities for growth and adaptation. For instance, the increased use of technology and e-commerce platforms could facilitate the development of new business models and innovative solutions within the industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian researchers have found two drugs that can be used to fight the coronavirus. The drugs are an HIV medication and an anti-malaria medication.
The HIV medication is called Kaletra and the anti-malaria medication is called hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine.
The drugs have been used in test tubes and on patients, and they have been shown to stop the coronavirus in its tracks.
More information can be found on the website of the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, where the drugs were discovered.
