The novel coronavirus has claimed the life of thousands worldwide and has also affected more than 4 million people. While many countries are slowly reviving their economy by easing the restrictions on lockdown, scientists are on their mission to find the vaccine for ending the pandemic. However, a Chinese scientist has now revealed that a drug combination can substitute the vaccine to end the pandemic.
The drug combination that was being tested by the scientists in Peking University, has the potential to shorten the recovery period for those who are infected. It also builds up the immunity aginst the virus in a very brief period of time.
Sunney Xie, the chief in this research programme has told AFP that the drug is now being tested on animals.
"When we injected neutralising antibodies into infected mice, after five days the viral load was reduced by a factor of 2,500. That means this potential drug has (a) therapeutic effect.” Xie said.
The drug uses neutralising antibodies which are produced by the human immune system to prevent the virus. These antibodies were isolated from the blood of 60 recovered patients, by Xie’s team.
The team published a study on Sunday in a scientific journal called 'Cell' wherein they suggest that using the antibodies provide a potential cure for the disease and also shortens the time of recovery.
Xie said that his team had been working "day and night" to separate the antibody and develop the drug composition.
"Our expertise is single-cell genomics rather than immunology or virology. When we realised that the single-cell genomic approach can effectively find the neutralising antibody we were thrilled.”
Xie has also informed that the drug is likely to be ready for use by monsoon this year. The clinical trial is also underway. Since the World Health Organisation has warned that a period of 12 to 14 months will be the minimum time period required to attain the vaccine, this drug composition might substitute and reduce the global death toll.
