Cheap liver drug can prevent COVID-19

Cheap liver drug can prevent COVID-19​

“We showed that an existing drug shuts the door on the virus and can protect us from COVID-19.”​

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To find out whether UDCA might prevent COVID-19 in people, the Cambridge team and researchers at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf treated eight healthy volunteers with the liver drug.

“When we swabbed the noses of these volunteers, we found lower levels of ACE2, suggesting that the virus would have fewer opportunities to break into and infect their nasal cells — the main gateway for the virus,” said Ansgar Lohse, a researcher at the hospital.

UDCA isn’t 100% effective at stopping infection, but when the Cambridge team looked at existing data to compare the outcomes of COVID-19 patients who were taking the drug to those who weren’t, they discovered that those on UDCA were less likely to develop severe infections or be hospitalized.
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UDCA is well-tolerated by users and can be taken indefinitely as a treatment for liver disease — that makes it a promising alternative to COVID-19 vaccines for people with weak immune systems. Because it targets the ACE2 protein on our cells — and not the coronavirus itself — it should be just as effective against future variants as the ones currently circulating, too.

It’s not clear whether the Cambridge team plans to conduct trials to determine just how effective UDCA is at preventing COVID-19, but the researchers are bullish on its potential.

“This tablet costs little, can be produced in large quantities fast and easily stored or shipped, which makes it easy to rapidly deploy during outbreaks — especially against vaccine-resistant variants, when it might be the only line of protection while waiting for new vaccines to be developed,” said Sampaziotis.

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1. WHAT URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR

The active ingredient in Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets is ursodeoxycholic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance (bile acid) normally present in the bile.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets may be used for the following:

• To dissolve certain types of gall stones (stones in the gall bladder), which contain cholesterol. Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets may be suitable for patients who are unable to have surgery or do not wish to have surgery.
• To treat a type of liver disease known as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).
• To treat liver disease associated with cystic fibrosis in children aged 6 years to less than 18 years.

2. BEFORE YOU TAKE URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID TABLETS

Do not take Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets if you:

• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding

or if you have:

• ever had an allergic reaction to bile acids or to any of the other ingredients in Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets (see 'What Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets Contain' in section 6 'Further Information')
• a gall bladder which is not working properly or you have gall-stones that contain calcium
• severe liver disease other than primary biliary cirrhosis
• peptic ulcers
• inflammation of the bowel
• inflammation of the gall bladder or biliary tract (the ducts that transport bile from the liver to the small intestine)
• blockage of the biliary tract
• frequent episodes of biliary colic (often characterised by upper right stomach pain).

If any of the above statements apply to you, do not take Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets.

Children aged 6 years to less than 18 years with cystic fibrosis
Not to be taken if the child has had unsuccessful surgery to restore the flow of bile to the small intestine.

Taking other medicines
Taking another medicine while you are taking Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets can affect how it or the other medicine works. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those you may have bought yourself without a prescription.

Please check with your doctor if you are taking any of the following (or any other medication):

• oral contraceptives (the pill) or oestrogen (a female sex hormone)
• medicines used to lower blood cholesterol (clofibrate, colestipol and colestyramine). If it is necessary to take a medicine containing colestipol or colestyramine, you must take it at least 2 hours before or after Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets
• medicines used to treat stomach problems (charcoal and antacids containing aluminium). If it is necessary to take one of these medicines, you must take it at least 2 hours before or after Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets
• ciclosporin (used after transplants)
• ciprofloxacin (used to treat infections)
• nitrendipine (used to treat high blood pressure)
• dapsone (used to treat leprosy and other skin conditions).

If you have any doubts about whether you should take this medicine then discuss matters with your doctor before taking it.
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