The newly wide-spread SARS-CoV-2 is prevailing across the globe. The outbreak caused by the coronavirus has upheaved lives and led to an impending economy crash. Revolting against this pandemic are our front end health line workers. Although till date no vaccine or drug has been developed which prevents the Covid-19 disease but several patients who were infected by the Coronavirus have been cured. This has fueled the healthcare officials and researchers in the major pharmaceutical and bio-medical industries to comb through the existing trove of medicines and find a vaccine for as the cure against the Coronavirus.
Favilavir (Favipiravir)
This anti-viral drug has been approved by The National Medical Products Administration of China as a treatment for Coronavirus. This was used for the treatment of Influenza. During the human trials it showed efficiency in the treatment of coronavirus.
Fusogenix DNA Vaccine
The Fusogenix drug delivery platform is used against the coronavirus infection. The Fusogenix drug delivery platform is a proteo-lipid vehicle and this delivers its genetic payload directly inside the organism cells. The DNA vaccine is being prepared by the Entos Pharmaceuticals. Protein epitopes are being derived from the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The company is trying to develop an optimized payload which encloses multiple protein epitopes to instigate an immune response in the Covid-19 patient.
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
The Jenner institute is developing an Adeno virus vaccine vector. The weakened version of common cold virus is genetically altered by adding Spike Glycoproteins which are found o the surface of the coronavirus. The change has been made in the ChAdOx1 virus to make it compatible for the human host as it primarily infects the chimpanzees. The Astra Zeneca’s vaccine was found at the University of Oxford.
Gimisilumab
Covid -19 in its last stages causes an inflammation of myeloid cells and thus infiltrates and damages the tissues. This is also known as the Cytokine Storm. The Gimisilumab is a human monoclonal antibody which inhibits the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as this leads to high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine in serum of the person infected by the Coronavirus.
The biopharmaceutical company Roviant Sciences is working on clinical development of Gimisilumab for treating the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome which is associated with the SARS-Cov-2 virus infection.
TZLS-501
This is a Human Monoclonal Antibody which targets the Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) and reduces the elevated level of IL-6 in the body. Tiziana Life Sciences is developing this drug which binds to the Interleukin as it is responsible for chronic inflammation of lungs (ARDS).
BPI-002
A New York based Bio-pharmaceutical Company Beyond spring Inc. has recently filed a provisional U.S patent for its BPI-002 drug which is said to be effective against the viral infections including Covid-19. The drug can be orally administered. BPI-002 when combined attenuated coronavirus vaccine elicits an Immune response by activating CD4 and CD8 receptors, thus stimulating the helper T cells and the cytotoxic cells.
INO-4800 DNA Vaccine
Inovio Biotechnological Company has collaborated with the Germany based Richter-Helm BioLoics for the advancement of the INO-4800 DNA vaccine against the SARS-Cov-2 virus which causes Covid-19. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is providing the funds for this agreement. Recombinant subunit vaccine
Clover Biopharmaceuticals and Dynavax Technologies Corporation have started a research collaboration for developing a trimeric S protein based vaccine (COVID-19 S-Trimer) by utilizing Clover’s patented Trimer-Tag techonology and Dynavax’s CpG 1018 adjuvant.
BXT-125
BIXT Biotechnological Company has invited collaborations for the development of its BX-25 drug for treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in the Covid-19 patients. In the late stages of the infection the patient’s vital organs are filled with fluid as the blood lacks diffused oxygen. BIOXYTRAN INC’s drug is 5000 times smaller than the blood cells and thus capable of transporting oxygen throughout the body. The drug continuously circulates with the half-life of 9 hours until it is processed by the liver.
Remdesivir (GS-5734) is an anti-viral drug created by the American Biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. This prodrug of the parent Adenosine Analog is a broad spectrum small molecule. Both Remdesivir and the adenosine analog (GS-441524) when metabolized in the body turn into active Nucleoside Triphosphate (NTP) and have showed efficacy against the coronavirus.
Galidesivir
Galidesivir (BCX4430) is an Adenosine analog broad spectrum anti-viral drug being developed by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. It is a Nucleoside RNA polymerase which inhibits the process of replication in the virus.
BNT162 RNA Vaccine
Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) and Pfizer Inc. have developed BNT162 vaccine. This is a modified nucleoside (mRNA) vaccine against covid-19 which is capable of generating an antigen-antibody immune response.
The industry giants are also trying combination of various existing drugs as potential therapies. Many pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson, Roche, AstraZenca, Sanofi and Moderna are sprinting for finding the cure.
