Another antiparasitic drug effective against Covid

Mechanical engineering and materials science professor David
Needham has shown that a slight increase in solution pH might
be all it takes to turn a metabolic inhibiting drug
(https://bit.ly/33v6Pnv), traditionally used to treat gut parasites,
into a promising prophylactic/preventative nasal spray and early
treatment throat spray for COVID-19.
Since 1958, niclosamide has been used to treat gut parasite
infections in humans, pets and farm animals. Delivered as oral
tablets, the drug kills the parasites on contact by inhibiting their
crucial metabolic pathway and shutting down their energy supply.
In recent years, however, researchers have been testing
niclosamide’s potential to treat a much wider range of diseases,
such as many types of cancer, metabolic diseases, rheumatoid
arthritis and systemic sclerosis. Recent laboratory studies in cells
have also shown the drug to be a potent antiviral medication,
inhibiting a virus’s ability to cause disease by targeting the
energy supply of the host cell that the virus co-opts for its
self-replication.
Niclosamide primarily acts upon host cell’s mitochondria, which
are like energy-producing batteries of the cell. The drug prevents
the cell from producing its main energy molecule, adenosine
5'-triphosphate, or ATP. Without the infected cell’s energy supply,
the virus has trouble replicating viable copies of itself to cause
further infections. These effects are reversible and do not result
in any cell death.
“Niclosamide turns down the dimmer switch on a cell’s energy and
essentially puts the virus in lockdown,” said Needham, the sole
author of the new study. When used in conjunction with vaccines,
masking and other recommended mitigation measures for COVID
prevention, the new niclosamide solution holds potential as an
adjunct strategy, he said. “This development could enable safe and
effective nose and throat sprays that provide additional protection
behind the mask.”