As advanced as medical science is, there are still many diseases we cannot treat. For example, there is no cure for COVID-19. However, this doesn’t mean that we cannot help people recover from this disease. Scientists at the University of Waterloo have found that type-2 diabetes helps stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus in people with diabetes.

You probably already heard about the so called risk groups. It is people who are either more likely to contract COVID-19 or are at a bigger risk of death from this disease. Old people, people with weakened immune systems or compromised respiratory systems fall into the higher risk group. People with diabetes are also at a higher COVID-19 risk group – they are facing a much higher risk of infection and a much higher probability of complications from the virus.

Scientists now have examined the 3D structure of the COVID-19 protein and discovered that one medication, used to treat type 2 diabetes, could actually bind to the virus and stop it from replicating. The medication, called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, or DPP4 inhibitors, could therefore prevent virus replication process in host cells. It is not a form of vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 virus could still enter the human body and cause an infection. However, this medicine could prevent virus from replicating and spreading throughout the body. Praveen Nekkar, lead researcher in this study, said: “Discovering and developing a new medication can take 10 to 15 years and cost upwards of a billion dollars. COVID-19 is wreaking havoc right now and we need good pharmacotherapy treatment options as soon as possible – that’s why we started investigating drug repurposing”.

This medicine could be especially useful in treating COVID-19 patients who have diabetes. However, it could also be used to treat other people who have COVID-19. These drugs are already proven, we know their characteristics and safety. Drug repurposing has a big advantage, because they can be employed much quicker as they have already went through the clinical testing phase. Of course, more research is needed to determine whether these drugs are going to be effective. Scientists now want to test the DPP4 inhibitors in cell cultures infected with the COVID-19 virus and assess their efficacy.

The treatment is still quite a ways away. Hopefully we can get it fairly soon to help thousands of the most vulnerable people who contract COVID-19.

Source: University of Waterloo