The first phase of testing of a new drug from Covid-19, based on the use of stem cells, was successfully completed at the Rambam Clinic in Haifa, Israel, the developers of the new drug told RIA Novosti.
According to them, only three injections a day were needed to normalize the level of oxygen saturation and significantly improve the condition of patients. Now experts are moving to the second stage of testing.
According to lead researcher Tomer Bronstein, Bonus BioGroup Ltd has been researching bone stem cells for many years for use in plastic surgery and orthopedics. Studies show that stem cell-based drugs can be extremely effective in treating Covid-19.
“Stem cells have the ability to normalize the immune system. We can say that they work as an emergency in the body. For example, if there is damaged tissue, these cells can repair it. They can repair damaged tissue by normalizing the immune system. We use this property. trying to cure a cytokine storm in the body during coronavirus, we do not use these cells in their original form, we make some changes in them – small, but they help to enhance the effect against inflammatory processes in the patient’s body”- said Bronstein.
According to researchers, stem cells are taken from healthy people, processed in a bioreactor by a special technology, the necessary changes are made in the cells, and the whole preparation process takes about 10 days. The drug is made in the form of an injection, which is administered subcutaneously, according to BGNES.
In the first phase of the study, the drug was tested on several patients with severe coronavirus who had serious chronic diseases. According to experts, the condition of all patients improved within 24 hours, and after the third dose the drug returned to normal.
Computed tomography data from patients who participated in the experiment, conducted before, immediately after and one month after the introduction of a new drug, show that the drug effectively treats pneumonia.
Researchers are currently moving to the second phase of the trial, which will take place in Israel with 60 patients with severe coronavirus. After the completion of the second phase, the third will begin, which will be attended by about 300 patients from around the world.