Symposium on the new coronavirus of the Japanese Society of Infectious Diseases = 21st, Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
COVID-19: “Mefloquine” as a Corona Drug Candidate: Malaria Treatment
National Institute of Infectious Diseases:
Takaji Wakita, Director of National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced.
The COVID-19 Symposium will be held in Tokyo on August 21st.
At the symposium of the Japanese Society of Infectious Diseases regarding the new coronavirus, “the possibility of using the antimalarial drug mefloquine as a new therapeutic agent” is reported.
Mefloquine: a drug for malaria
According to Wakita, mefloquine has been used for malaria worldwide for decades.
Basic research on new corona infection:
Administered mefloquine in basic research to infect cultured cells with new corona.
Mefloquine prevented cell entry and confirmed a very strong antiviral effect.
Benefits of Mefloquine:
Mefloquine is administered orally as a malaria drug.
The effect lasts for more than 2 weeks, so it could be used to prevent new corona infections.
Currently, the effect on humans is unknown.
Mr. Wakita said, “Maybe we can expect a lot. We want to start clinical trials in Japan and overseas as soon as possible.”
Infoseek news
https://news.infoseek.co.jp/article/sankein_lif2008210073
New Corona: Is Antimalarial Effective Against New Corona?
NIED Cell Experiment:
In the experiment, cultured cells were infected with a novel corona and this drug was administered.
More cells survived than the other drugs tried.
It seems that it prevented the virus from entering the cell and prevented its growth.
New Corona Treatment:
Initially, another antimalarial drug, “hydroxychloroquine,” was expected.
However, as a result of clinical trials, the therapeutic effect was poor.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun
https://r.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO62939310R20C20A8CR8000?s=4