Scientists at a New Zealand startup say they have discovered the “penicillin of viruses”. It can be used to treat various ailments.
Before antimicrobial resistance became a worldwide problem, penicillin—the first antibiotic to be discovered by science—was the kryptonite for most bacteria, as it is considered a broad-spectrum medication.
This means that it could and, in some cases, still can, kill a large number of pathogens, without the doctor needing to know which one was attacking the patient. For viruses, no such remedy has ever been discovered, and for most viral infections, there is still no specific antiviral or penicillin-like one. But that could soon change.
In New Zealand, startup scientists Kimer Med they want to create the first broad-spectrum antiviral, capable of fighting a multitude of viruses with high efficacy and safety. The almost miraculous medicine is called VTose and builds on earlier studies that were abandoned, with the drug Draco. According to those responsible, there was a lack of financial resources for the previous study.
Each virus poses a huge problem for scientists and the pharmaceutical industry because of its diversity. After all, there are different variations between viral strains and sometimes this implies different symptoms and complications.
For example, in the case of hepatitis, there are five most common types (A, B, C, D and E) that affect the liver, but none of them act exactly the same in the body. Each solution must be individual.
Another point is that the virus replication rate is quite high. Constantly evolving, they become specialists in evading medications designed specifically against them.
This is one of the explanations for why we don’t have drugs that can eliminate the HIV virus — what there is, on the pharmaceutical market, can only control the disease and, depending on the case, prevent a healthy person from contracting the infection.
How does the startup want to modify the fight against viruses?
The strategy of the new antiviral is to find a common point for all the viruses that infect humans, even those that have yet to be discovered by science.
According to the Kimer Med team, during the replication of any virus within a cell, a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is produced. This can be recognized by the drug and, after identification, the compound VTose stimulates cell apoptosisthat is, the programmed death of the infected cell, which would cure the patient.
“As far as we know, all viruses create long segments of dsRNA as part of their replication process. Based on this, we have good reason to believe that VTose may be effective against all human and animal viruses. However, having said that, there may be exceptions that we are not yet aware of.”
Considering the first version of the antiviral, the one known as Draco, the compound managed to eliminate, in laboratory experiments, 15 different viruses. In addition, in tests with animal models, in the case of mice, the compound improved the symptoms of the H1N1 virus (influenza).
At the moment, the startup plans to test the potential penicillin against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, HIV, Hepatitis B, dengue and other types of viruses that affect humans and animals. If the new round of laboratory tests shows promising results, the idea is to start clinical trials, that is, with humans.
