Scientists have discovered that an antiviral drug commonly used for treating AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma, hairy cell leukemia, and melanoma could help accelerate the recovery of COVID-19 patients.

Researchers from all around the world, led by Dr, Eleanor Fish, a retired scientist at the University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, and professor in the University of Toronto's Department of Immunology have discovered that interferon-a2b (IFN) could play a significant role in helping coronavirus patients rehabilitate.

The drug has been used for many medical conditions in the past. It has been known to reduce the level of pathogens in the upper respiratory tract on an average of about seven days. Interferon was also found to reduce two inflammatory proteins primarily found in COVID-19 patients called interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.

Dr. Fish contends that instead of developing a virus-specific drug for each new virus outbreak that comes along, it would be better to turn to interferons as 'first responders' when it comes to treatment. She says her research team first considered IFN-α therapy for COVID-19 after using the same therapy to treat the SARS outbreak back in 2002 and 2003. She added that it provided therapeutic benefit to the SARS patients back then.

The team directed their experimental study on a group of 77 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. The patients were admitted between January 16 and February 20, 2020, to Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, in the Hubei province. The patients were made up of moderate cases of the disease, as none of them required intensive care, intubation, or prolonged oxygen supplementation.

Even though the study was limited to a small, non-randomized group of patients, it showed that treatment with IFN-α2b could speed up the viral clearance from the upper respiratory tract. Furthermore, the procedure was found to reduce the circulating levels of inflammatory factors identified with severe COVID-19.

According to Dr. Fish, the next crucial step would be to hold a randomized clinical trial. She says that a bigger group of randomized patients using a treatment and placebo group would further their research.

For the time being, the study's findings are the first to propose the therapeutic efficacy of IFN-α2b as an intervention for COVID-19. The results of the study are published on May 15 in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.

What are Interferons?

Interferons are a group of proteins released by the human body as signals in response to all viruses. As Dr. Fish says, they are the "first line of defense."

There are three types; alpha, beta, and gamma. IFN-alpha is generated in the leukocytes infected with the virus, while IFN-beta comes from fibroblasts infected with the virus. Likewise, IFN-gamma is brought about by the stimulation of non-sensitized lymphocytes with mitogens or sensitized lymphocytes containing antigens.

They stop viruses from further multiplying by attacking them at different stages in a virus's life cycle. Interferons can also boost the immune response by stimulating different immune cells to free the body from infection.

However, According to Dr. Fish, some viruses can block this natural defense mechanism. Nonetheless, she says that treatment using interferon can counterbalance the block.