Immunologist claims drug to prevent inflammation, deaths on COVID patients

Chennai: An immunologist, who had studied her PG in Oxford University, on Wednesday claimed to have come out with a research recommending a monoclonal antibody drug that would prevent inflammation and deaths among COVID patients.

Talking to the media here, Ms Gowthami Balasubramanian, who had her post-graduation in M.Sc–Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford, England, said during her specialized research in inflammatory Autoimmune Disorder at University of Oxford, she derived a drug which was approved by the Department of Oncology, Oxford University.

The result has been found to be relevant in tackling COVID-19. Her monoclonal antibody drug recommendation based on these results will drastically prevent inflammation during the final stages of the disease, provide relief and prevent death.

"This is not a vaccine, but only a medicine to prevent the death of patients who are in a critical condition", she said and wanted the Tamil Nadu government to take her research findings to the next level for the benefit of COVID patients.

Ms Gowthami said normally, if any virus enters the body, the body will react against that virus by causing inflammation (characterized by swelling, pain, heat and redness) to get rid of it.

This inflammation is triggered mainly by a protein molecule called TNF-alpha. In COVID-19, during the severe stages, this particular TNF-alpha is overreactive and induces severe inflammation and breathlessness, resulting in death.

In addition to inflammation, the confusion caused by TNF-alpha results in the body’s immune cells attack and destroy body’s own cells. This phenomenon is called Autoimmunity, and this will reduce body’s natural immunity.

Stating that blocking TNF-alpha using an antibody will reduce inflammation and prevent death, she said administration of this drug will immediately control inflammation, fever, and breathlessness which are the contributing factors for death.

During the first wave of COVID-19, she has sent this proposal to ICMR and other institutions. She is still awaiting a response from the ICMR. (UNI)