War on virus: NIPER nebuliser offers hope

HYDERABAD:

NIPER

along with two private companies has developed a nebuliser that pumps medicine into the lungs to treat Covid-19. The nebuliser-based therapy also works against various respiratory ailments ranging from common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The novel therapy targets the nuclear base called guanine present in the genetic material. By targeting guanine, one of the four nuclear bases that make the DNA and the RNA, the nebuliser-based therapy stops the novel coronavirus from replication in the human body. Once the replication is stopped, the body immune system takes over and kills the remaining viral load.

According to the application submitted to Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation seeking permit for clinical trials using new therapy, chlorine water is used to target virus, which is made of RNA. Chlorine is known to target guanine in the RNA of the virus thus stopping it from replication. Chlorine also kills the DNA in the bacteria by targeting the nuclear base. This is the reason why chlorine is used to disinfect water supplied for drinking by municipal authorities. However, the research team did not specify the active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the nebuliser. Dr Shashi Bala Singh, director of NIPER, Hyderabad, said: “In the fight against Covid, it is not known yet what the promising drug will look like till date. NIPER, Hyderabad, with industry partners LifeActivus and Supreme Industries, invented “LifeViroTreat”, a nebuliser-based therapy for respiratory viral infection and more importantly Covid-19.”

Dr

Keshav Deo

and Dr D Panchasara are other team members. A team comprising Dr Dharmendra Khatri, Dr Pankaj K Singh, Dr Nandkumar Doijad and Dr Rahul from NIPER carried out the preclinical toxicity studies in animals and found it safe for use.