Scientists from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer have invented a drug that can both prevent and treat COVID-19, including all new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In their internationally peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Nature Communications, Australian medical researchers found that their drug can both prevent persistent inflammation as well as repair damaged lung tissue in preclinical trials.
Previously, the team discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor on the cell’s surface, triggering virus replication.
In this new discovery, epigeneticist and co-lead author Professor Sudha Rao said their drug has been found to reprogram the ACE-2 receptor into a lock on the cell surface that prevents new viruses from entering the cells….