UPDATES ON COVID-19 CURE

Since the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been several attempts at finding cure to the unique virus that has resulted to a public health emergency throwing the global community into a semi-standstill and making the strongest countries seem weak and helpless. The following are some of the latest updates on antidote discovery journey for the novel disease.

CHINESE VACCINE

The Adenovirus type 5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine

Also known as Ad5-nCoV just concluded the first phase of clinical trial though its effectiveness was not established, the vaccine has been confirmed to communicate to the human immune system to recognize the presence of SARS- COV-2 (the virus that cause COVID-19) and fight the virus. The ability of the vaccine to enable the human immune system to combat the virus is in the ADENOVIRUS (a common virus unable to replicate or infect) which is the base that spike proteins specific to SARS-COV-2, spike proteins are proteins present on the surface of virus which enable viruses infect healthy cells. The vaccine was said to produce antibodies 14 days’ post vaccination and was well tolerated by the volunteers with mild side effects which lasted a short while.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, EDMONTON, CANADA

Ebola Drug

Scientists from University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, confirmed Remdesivir a drug initially developed for the treatment of Ebola Virus Disease is showing promising result from the in vitro experiments, the drug was said to block polymerases (enzymes that allow virus to replicate) as way of treatment. Though, the results for the randomized testing is yet to be out, there is positive hope as per its effectiveness.

NIGERIA

The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha during a briefing confirmed 3 of the plentiful cure claims for COVID-19, this came after a virtual meeting with scientists and researchers with prospective COVID-19 cure. The selected prospective cures have been considered eligible for further studies and will be forwarded to the necessary organization.

EAST AFRICA

The Director of investment and enterprise, United Nations James Zhan, announced during a Trade and Development virtual conference organized by the WHO that 8 vaccines have met the prerequisite standards and will be assessed with results expected to be announced few months from now.

MADAGASCAR

COVID-organics

21 May 2020 was a memorable day for Andry Rajoelina president of Madagascar as a confidentiality clause was signed with the WHO on the formulation of COVID-organics which was done via a virtual meeting, this means WHO cannot disclose the constituents of the supposed cure. The liquid which was gotten from Artemisia plant and developed by the Malasy Institute of Applied Research has been announced to kick start with clinical trials with the liquid and an injectable form of the plant extract though, Director for Legal Studies at the Presidency Michelle Sahondrarimalala who is also a medical doctor refuted the injectable form claim by saying the President was misunderstood. She revealed there was never a plan to put the plant extract in injectable form and established the WHO’s endorsement of the clinical trial.

ITALY

just as several conspiracy theories have circulated during the pandemic, there have been messages circulating different social media platform claiming covid-19 has been confirmed to be caused by bacteria through an autopsy carried out on dead victims of the disease the claims also accused WHO purposely prohibiting countries from performing autopsy in order not to find out. These claims are false as WHO only give recommendations and cannot compel her member countries to perform any act besides, other countries like Unites States and Brazil have conducted researches on dead covid-19 victims. As of 26 May 2020, no autopsy research confirmed covid-19 was caused by bacteria.

ASPIRIN USE

Blood thinning effect of aspirin made it at the top of list for potential covid-19 treatment reason being, a literature review into autopsy-based research noted evidence of thrombosis in a lot of covid-19 dead victims with other researches publishing similar results. Though, not a cure, low doses of aspirin have been suggested to reduce the severity of covid-19 symptoms as result from the clinical trials are yet to be published as at the time of writing. The NHS warns low doses should only be taken if recommended by the doctor.

The increasing spread of covid-19 will result in amplified pressure to discover a cure, with established cure comes an imbalance between enormous demand for the cure and supply by pharmaceutical companies leaving underprivileged countries at the mercy of good Samaritans.