Jubilee Post News & Views
News Desk
While coronavirus cases are on the rise in the country some hope is coming from the scientists who are working to develop vaccine and many are testing existing vaccines and drugs to try and use it to treat patients.
The CSIR –Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow is going to test drug Umifenovir in the Phase III Clinical Trial against COVID-19. The test will be in collaboration with three medical institutes.
IN a similar case King George’s Medical University is attempting protection from the BCG vaccine and also conducting trial of a drug made by the NBRI with orange peel extract. This drug is used in other symptoms/diseases and now will be given to COVID-19 patients admitted here.
The CDRI has received permission for carrying out Phase III randomised, Double blind, Placebo controlled trial of efficacy, safety and tolerability of antiviral drug Umifenovir.
The Phase III Clinical Trials will be carried out at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) and ERA’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital.
This drug has a good safety profile and acts by preventing entry of virus into human cells and also by priming the immune system. Umifenovir is mainly used for treatment of influenza and is available in China and Russia, and has recently come into prominence due to its potential use for Covid19 patients, said Prof Tapas Kundu director of the CDRI.
CDRI has developed the process technology for Umifenovir in record time and licensed the economical process technology for manufacturing and marketing the drug to a Goa based company, who have already received test license from DCGI.
Prof Kundu said that all the raw materials for the drug are indigenously available and if the clinical trial is successful, Umifenovir can be a safe, efficacious, affordable drug against COVID-19 and can be part of National Program against COVID-19.
Prof Kundu also added that this drug has the potential for prophylactic use.
