Camostat tablets and nafamostat, which is given intravenously, are already licensed in Japan to treat pancreatitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas, says an article “New Drugs Could Halt Spread of Killer Coronavirus” published in Daily Sun Express on April 26. It is reportedly thought that there is enough existing safety data for wide-scale human trials to begin immediately.
Dr. Bobojon Nazarov, who originally conceived these trials, says: “This drug could be a game-changer because it stops the virus in its tracks.
“At a time when thousands of people are dying every day from the disease and economies are paralyzed, this crucial research will make use of an existing medicine that we know is safe to use and has already been shown in lab studies to prevent the virus from infecting human cells.”
He added: “Unlike a vaccine treatment, which still may be some time in the future, these drugs could be used immediately.
“This is the only class of drugs which have been shown to block the entry of the COVID-19 virus into the cell.
“All other therapies target processes downstream – once the virus has taken more hold in the body.”
Dr. Nazarov, founder of not-for-profit company Latus Therapeutics, is leading a team of scientists and clinicians from the University of Oxford.
He hopes to launch the trials of camostat later this month on patients who have tested positive for Covid-19.
Up to now most drug trial research has focused on antivirals, such as Remdesivir, developed to treat Ebola, or Kaletra, a combination drug against HIV which reduces the impact of the virus in the body. Camostat and nafamostat instead work by blocking the virus’s pathway into lung cells.
Camostat is taken in tablet form and can be used for patients who are not in hospital. Nafamostat works in the same way, but is delivered intravenously for hospital patients who may not be able to swallow.
Previous research found that the COVID-19 virus requires a specific protein – TMPRSS2 – to get inside the cells that line the respiratory tract where they then start to replicate. Studies on human cells have shown that both drugs block the action of this protein, which in turn should prevent infection.
“That protein is like the key unlocking the door to the cell and this drug is designed to stop that process,” explained Dr. Nazarov.
Trial participants will receive regular coronavirus tests in addition to the medication. Their progress will be compared with those receiving standard care.
Patients will be constantly assessed to make sure they do not need to be hospitalized if their symptoms worsen.
Latus Therapeutics is currently finalizing documents to start the trial which was given the green light last week.
It will involve 500 patients from across the country in the community who have tested positive for the disease. Camostat will be given to very unwell patients with Covid-19.
A second study, which will be launched soon, will begin work in hospitals using the nafamostat drug.
There is currently no approved therapy for Covid-19 so very sick patients are only being given nursing care and oxygen.
There are currently 902 ongoing clinical trials into different drug treatments for Covid-19 across the world.
Other studies into camostat are also being carried out in Germany, Denmark and Yale School of Medicine in the United States.
