A large-scale clinical trial of the drug “arbidol” (international non-proprietary name – umifenovir) has been completed in Iran. It was attended by patients with a confirmed new coronavirus infection (mild and moderate). The participants were divided into two groups: patients from the first group were given the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine and the antiviral drug Kaletra. The second group received the same hydroxychloroquine, and arbidol was added to the scheme as an antiviral agent. On the seventh day of illness, all patients from the arbidol group showed more intense positive dynamics. In other words, the symptoms of the disease, such as weakness, cough, gastrointestinal disturbances, disappeared much faster in patients taking umifenovir. The difference is so great that it cannot be attributed to a statistical error, Iranian doctors are sure. Moreover: statistically significant differences in the development of the disease were observed already on the third day of treatment, experts emphasize. And they make an unambiguous conclusion: these differences are due precisely to the addition of arbidol. All materials on the results of the test are published on the Research Square research site.
Justifying the need for their work, Iranian scientists referred to data from previous studies of umifenovir. Previously, it was proved that the drug is able to bind to molecules of hemagglutinin (surface protein – ed.) Of the influenza virus, depriving it of the ability to attach to a human cell. As for covid, the potential efficacy of arbidol against the new type of coronavirus was discovered by simulating the interaction of the umifenovir molecule with possible drug targets on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Thus, the data of the Iranian experiment prove the correctness of the conclusions made earlier by microbiologists from Australia, the USA and India.
“It is these results obtained in the course of molecular modeling that made it possible to use umifenovir so freely in complex therapy. The conclusions of our Iranian colleagues, as well as our own observations, just confirm the validity of the data obtained during the modeling. Thus, scientists from different countries of the world managed to build a coherent and logical chain, starting from assumptions and ending with clinical data that leave no doubt about the effectiveness of the drug, “said Professor of the Department of Immunology and Allergology of the RUDN University, Doctor of Biological Sciences Oksana Gizinger. …
A similar point of view is shared by the professor of the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Radiobiology named after Academician P.V. Sergeeva MBF GBU VPO RNIMU them. N.I. Pirogova, Professor of the Department of Pharmacology, P.M. THEM. Sechenova, Doctor of Biological Sciences Elena Kareva. At our request, she explained how the virus infects the cell and how umifenovir can prevent it.
– It is not a virus that enters the cell – it is the cell that absorbs it. The epithelium of the respiratory tract has phagocytic activity. The cells of the mucous membrane, as it were, “eat” some proteins that they consider useful for themselves. And the virus mimics a “useful” protein, allows itself to be swallowed, and then deceives the cell. Instead of allowing the lysosome, the cellular “organ” to destroy itself, the virus releases fragments of RNA and attacks the nucleus … But back to the beginning of the process. There are only five ways in which the virus enters the cell. There are, of course, much more viruses. This means that each of these paths contains a huge number of viruses. It was previously proved that the influenza virus, many pathogens of ARVI, as well as the coronavirus, fortunately, enter the cell in the same way. Well, umifenovir, as it turned out, is capable of “blocking” this very way of absorption of the virus by the cell, blocking a certain protein. This means that the drug is effective against all viruses that enter the cell in this way. This is very important for clinical practice, since this conclusion allows the doctor to prescribe Arbidol for any manifestation of ARVI.
In Russia, Arbidol is included in the latest version of the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Russia on drug prevention and outpatient / inpatient treatment of mild forms of COVID-19. According to current statistics, they account for more than 80% of all diagnosed cases. Earlier, the Ministry of Health approved amendments to the instructions for use of the drug. Now it is indicated there that Arbidol exhibits specific activity against coronavirus. An updated version of the instruction has already been published in the State Register of Medicines (GRLS).
Over the past few days, in a number of Russian regions, statements have been made by medical authorities about the preparation of health services for the arrival of the fourth wave of the coronavirus epidemic.
