Researchers are working on a treatment protocol for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients that includes two low-cost drugs already in the Egyptian market, according to a Cairo University statement on Friday statement.
The university said the treatment protocol has been submitted to the Ministry of Health, and, if it’s effectives is proven, clinical trials will be conducted.
The protocol combines antiviral and immune system regulators, which have few effects, the statement said. The treatment aims to cause resisting against the virus and control the immune system’s response.
The protocol is being adopted for trial alongside other protocols after it underwent careful examination at Ministry of Health it in the first week of April, the statement noted.
In televised comments, Cairo University Spokesperson Mahmoud Alam El-Din said that the two drugs of the new treatment protocol are available at the Egyptian market at low cost.
He added that the research team has prepared a database of all vaccines that have been on trial to treat coronavirus patients around the world.
Research has been carried out on drugs to combat the coronavirus, such as the antiviral Remdesivir which was approved for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cairo University has ranked in first place among Egyptian universities in terms of internationally published research on the coronavirus pandemic, the statement said.
It added that the university has contributed 18 out of 55 Egyptian research papers as well as eight of the 33 clinical trials.
Researchers have also submitted several projects, which were undertaken with EGP 10m in funding, on immunological scanning of coronavirus patients and healthcare workers. This was conducted to determine the genetic code of isolated viruses from Egypt and the changes that happen to them, the statement highlighted.
