One of the instructors of the Faculty of Medicine at Karbala University, who is Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Mansour (Ph.D., Microbiology and Clinical Immunology), Head of the Microbiology Branch, proposed a drug for the emerging coronavirus (Covid 19)
What can contribute to solving this crisis and a way to recover from it can score an important point and a remarkable development in the records of Iraqi doctors in the field of this specialty
This proposal was supported and encouraged by a group of fellow teaching physicians
Below is the text of the proposal, which was endorsed by a group of college professors
: A novel treatment for Covid 19
Let me speak about new suggestion for treatment of Covid 19. Please forward my message to those who are in charge.
As RNA dependant RNA polymerase is unique for the virus that is to say there is no similar molecule in the human cells. I suggest trying RNA dependant RNA polymerase inhibitor as a therapeutic agent. We have Suramin share this effect together with being protease inhibitor. Again protease is vital for Corona viruses replication. Besides, Suramin has much less side effects than does chloroquine and its derivatives hydroxychloroquin. By the way, the latter agent has no known mechanism of action against the virus, but it is thought to block the viral entery to the cell. Suramin has been tried recently to treat Covid 19 and the authors are still waiting for the results.
Another drug was tested together with over 100 molecules via Iraqi authors from University of Kufa using a proteomic study to test the ability of these molecules as RNA inhibitor and or protease inhibitor of Covid 19. Only few molecules were shown to be effective in this regard among which was the quinolon derivative, Norfloxacin. The latter agent was suggested by the committee of Covid 19 therapeutics in Kerbala Health Directorate that recommend Norfloxacin as an adjunct therapy for Covid 19 recently.
Regards.
Assistant professor Ali Mansoor Al Ameri
College of Medicine /University of Kerbala
