An aerosol-based drug treatment could drastically reduce the number of new coronavirus patients dying from the disease or requiring intensive care, according to preliminary results released by a British biotech firm.<\/p>\n In a randomised trial of 100 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, those who received an inhaled formula of the protein interferon beta were at 79 percent lower risk of\u00a0developing the severe disease compared with those who received a placebo.<\/p>\n They were also more than twice as likely to make a full recovery compared with the control group.<\/p>\n The firm behind the treatment, known as SNG001, said the preliminary results suggested “a major breakthrough” in the pandemic.<\/p>\n “We are all delighted with the trial results announced today, which showed that SNG001 greatly reduced the number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients who progressed from requiring oxygen to requiring ventilation,” said Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen.<\/p>\n The results published on Monday have not yet been peer-reviewed and the sample size is relatively small. But if confirmed the treatment could revolutionise the way COVID-19 is dealt with in hospitals.<\/p>\n Interferon beta is a naturally occurring protein, commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis.<\/p>\n It forms part of the body’s natural fight against infection, and the novel coronavirus suppresses its production in an attempt to evade an immune response.<\/p>\n Delivering the protein directly into the lungs of patients is designed to trigger a robust immune response to the virus, even in patients whose immune system is already weakened by infection.<\/p>\n “The results confirm our belief that interferon beta … has huge potential as an inhaled drug to be able to restore the lung’s immune response,” said Tom Wilkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton.<\/p>\n He said the trial showed SNG001 was effective in “enhancing protection, accelerating recovery and countering the impact of SARS-CoV-2 virus”.<\/p>\n There are currently a number of treatments available for patients hospitalised with COVID-19.<\/p>\n Last month, a UK-based team of researchers led by the University of Oxford announced they had successfully reduced the risk of death among seriously ill patients by administering the commonly available steroid dexamethasone.<\/p>\n Several countries have also issued the emergency authorisation for treatment with anti-viral remdesivir.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"There](\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/mritems\/imagecache\/mbdxxlarge\/mritems\/Images\/2020\/7\/20\/5529955ba5904880ba779162c44fbd42_18.jpg\" "\\"'Breakthrough'")
<\/img><\/p>Interferon beta<\/span><\/h2>\n