Medical Research
(Photo : pxhere)

A team of researchers from the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research in Australia says they've found a possible solution for the coronavirus.

Research director Professor David Paterson told a news outlet they have seen two drugs--- an HIV and anti-malaria medicine--- completely wipe out viruses in a test tube. 

Paterson hopes to have patients sign up for a nationwide human trial by April.

The HIV drug, along with an anti-malaria drug called chloroquine, has been administered to a few COVID-19 patients in Australia. The patients reportedly recovered without any traces of the virus. 

Paterson, who is also an infectious disease physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, said the drugs were effective in fighting the virus and completely eradicating it from the patient's body. 

However, he clarified it isn't supposed to be labeled as a "cure" but as a "potentially effective treatment option."

The researchers are now hoping for a larger clinical trial involving more than 50 hospitals. They plan to have a set number of patients treated using only the HIV drug, another set with only the anti-malaria drug, and the last set with a combination of the two drugs. 

The team of scientists will be observing for possible side effects.

"We're not on a flat foot, we can sort of move ahead very rapidly with enrolling Australians in this trial," Paterson said.

The group aims to go forward with the first wave of patients as they expect the virus to continue spreading for months ahead. 

The drug trials and research will start once the team has secured necessary fundings.

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A study at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity has seen success at understanding how the body fights off the coronavirus. 

Katherine Kedzierska, the laboratory head, found people's immune system responded to the threat of COVID-19 in the same way it responds to the flu virus.

The research was conducted after obtaining a sample from Australia's first patients who were found positive for coronavirus. They conducted studies to identify the antibodies aimed to fight the respiratory illness.

Samples taken showed the body giving immunity and fighting back against the virus. 

Kedzierska hopes their findings could help research groups in finding an effective vaccine. 

The research can also serve as a guide when evaluating potential trial candidates. 

Immunity

The new research has pushed the envelope further as it can now screen patients using blood markers to see who is at risk for developing serious or fatal symptoms. 

Screening patients can drastically help combat the virus as patients will now be given the proper care they need.

However, it is too early to say if the immune response generated by the body can give people immunity from the disease for a longer period. 

The answer can only be revealed after scientists check-in with recovered patients in the coming months.

Kedzierska says their findings could lead to new therapeutics by serving as an understanding of what's lacking or different in people with worse cases of coronavirus. 

The group will now map the immune system of a bigger group of patients. 

The findings of the study are published in Nature Medicine.