As per the recent international study by the scientists from Italy & Australia, Beta-blockers have it in them to be a potential treatment for COVID-19.
The scientists are now calling for Clinical Trials to support the research findings. Dr. Nirmal Robinson, along with his team in Naples has found out evidence in animal models where beta-blocker Propranolol is useful in suppressing the cancer spread in the lungs. Incidentally, it has an inflammatory tendency which is very similar to COVID-19.
According to the insights laid down by Dr. Robinson, who is the head of Cellular Stress & Immune Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer Biology, Propranolol is majorly used to take care of the heart condition, anxiety as well as migraine. However, the recent clinical trials have shown the efficacy of the drug in treating diseases like cancer too. He further adds that patients with COVID-19 are exposed to many abnormalities that include inflammation because SARS-CoV-2 virus directly affects the body’s immune system. What Beta-2 blockers do is reduce the amount of inflammation and in a way help the body to make an ideal balance in the immune system.
Beta-blockers are also used in treating autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis. Dr. Robinson goes on to add that SARS-Cov-2 enters the human cells through ACE2, which causes infection in the lower respiratory tract leading to inflammation and multi-organ failure. Patients who have comorbidities like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Heart Disease, etc., happen to be at a higher risk. Other suppressors of Inflammation like Tocilizumab & Ruxolitinib have been used to treat the more serious COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Robinson is of an opinion that beta-2 should be thoroughly studied in order to take its assistance for reducing inflammatory symptoms that relate to COVID-19. “Ideally, Clinical Trials should be the next in line so as to explore yet another remedy for COVID-19”, he says.
