The doctor told if a drug to lower cholesterol can kill COVID-19
An international team of scientists said that fenofibrate, used to lower blood cholesterol, is capable of killing coronavirus in human cells by 70% and is effective against most strains. Moscow 24 turned to Nikolai Kryuchkov, an immunologist and candidate of medical sciences, for a comment.
The specialist noted that the discovery of foreign colleagues is promising, but the results of the study were obtained in a test tube, the effectiveness of the drug has not been proven in humans.
“The good news is that this substance is well known. This means that it is highly secure. And the drug is relatively inexpensive, although I would not call it cheap either, ”Kryuchkov said.
He emphasized that it is not uncommon for a drug to work in a test tube, and clinical trials fail. Therefore, foreign specialists will conduct a study, dividing the volunteers into two groups. The former will be given standard therapy and the latter will be supplemented with fenofibrate. By comparing the performance of both groups, scientists will understand whether the drug can have a positive effect on the healing process. This will be expressed in how often patients get on mechanical ventilation and generally avoid death.
Kryuchkov says that if the research is carried out quickly, the interim results will be published in six months.
