For the treatment of Coronavirus, several vaccines are being tested on animals and humans. Scientists and researchers across the world are striving to develop vaccines, treatments and antibiotics to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the epicentre of the pandemic is shifting towards the United States, the global race to come up with the vaccine for treatment has intensified. The potential risks to older adults and people with the underlying health conditions necessitate a vaccine to be developed as soon as possible. Moreover, the disease still poses a risk of death or serious illness to all age groups.
The Phase 1 clinical trial of a vaccine to combat the virus is underway. Alongside, there are various promising approaches in the form of key vaccines and drugs which are under development.
Being one of the leading pharmaceutical formulation companies in India, Ciron Pharma puts forth prominent medicines and drugs which have been approved for treatment. Also, we furnish information on the vaccine development processes and clinical trials underway.
Approved Medicines and Drugs
- Hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, has been approved by several countries for emergency use. Pharma exports from India of the hydroxychloroquine and other drugs have significantly increased.
Various clinical trials are being conducted to test the efficiency of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of coronavirus.
- In China, the National Medical Products Administration of China approved Favilavir for Coronavirus treatment purposes.
It is an anti-viral drug and demonstrates efficacy in treatment with minimal side effects. However, its clinical trials are right now underway.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in India and across the world developing vaccines and drugs. Furnished below is the list of the major drugs and vaccines which various pharmaceutical companies are working on to develop. The drugs being worked on have demonstrated the potential to treat the virus and act as an effective medication for the disease.
- Roivant Sciences – Gimsilumab
The development of the Gimsilumab, a human monoclonal antibody, has been advanced at the clinical stage. The drug targets GM-CSF which is known to be pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are found in high levels in the serum of COVID-19 patients.
- Medicago – Coronavirus Vaccine
The research activities are partly funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research. Medicago is developing a drug which has produced virus-like particles of the virus.
- Tiziana Life Sciences – TZLS-510
It is developing a monoclonal antibody which will help in preventing the lung damage. It works by reducing chronic lung inflammation.
- Entos Pharmaceuticals – Fusogenix DNA
The drug is a proteo-lipid vehicle which introduces genetic payload directly into the cell which contains multiple protein epitopes. It stimulates an immune response in the human body to prevent virus infection.
- I-mab Biopharma – TJM2
The company has developed the neutralizing antibody as a treatment for cytokines storm in the coronavirus infected patients. The development will be commenced once approval from the administrative bodies has been received.
- University of Oxford – ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
The vaccine developed by the university’s Jenner Institute is being tested in a clinical trial on approximately 510 volunteers aged between 18 to 55 years.