While COVID-19 continues to make our lives hell, we desperately await a cure to end the pandemic-causing novel coronavirus. Several vaccine makers are already in the race to give us the silver bullet to take down the coronavirus.
But alongside, we also have researchers looking to repurpose existing drugs (whether undergoing trial or in the market) that could prove beneficial for people currently suffering from the coronavirus.?
And now, reports reveal that a cancer medicine made from the stem of a pineapple plant could help in treating patients with COVID-19.
The medicine is called BromAc and the treatment is being headed by cancer specialist David Morris from St. George Hospital in Sydney. The team feels that this treatment can stop the coronavirus to move to the lung of the carriers which will, in turn, prevent spreading of the disease.
As per reports, BromAc has been trialed with 36 cancer patients where they observed positive results. For application against COVID-19, the drug is administered in the form of a nasal spray which directly gets into the throats and lungs, thus preventing the spreading to occur in that area.?
The drug¡¯s core agent is actually an enzyme derived from the stem of a pineapple called Bromelain which is known to have several medicinal properties as well as used to treat burn victims.?
The drug has properties that straight away attack the spikes of COVID-19 -- that is what usually infects the cells in a human body, according to the medical claims.?
David Morris said in a statement to 7 News, ¡°We¡¯ve taken a drug in development for more than a decade and asked whether it can be adapted for treating people infected with COVID-19. Our lab results show the new drug renders the COVID-19 spike ineffective, stopping it from infecting other cells. We hope the results will show the treatment can confine COVID to the nose and throat and prevent lung infection, and stop infected patients from passing on the live virus.¡±
Researchers claim that a trial to test the efficacy of the medicine is expected to begin sometime next month.
Disclaimer: While there have been several different types of treatments being given to COVID-19 patients across the world, there isn¡¯t any one drug that has worked as a sure-shot treatment yet. Don¡¯t self medicate and always consult your doctor or medical health professional for any symptoms.