New drug likely to mitigate severe Covid, say scientists

Los Angeles, September 20

Scientists have found that a new drug has the potential to prevent or mitigate severe consequences of Covid, an advance that may lead to the development of novel therapeutics for the infection. The researchers, including those from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in the US, assessed how the drug 4-Phenylbutiric acid (4-PBA) modulates the inflammatory response produced in severe cases of Covid-19 in animal models.

Quarantine breachers in UK to be fined heavily

London: The UK government on Sunday announced new rules, which make it a legal requirement for people with Covid to quarantine, with fines of up to 10,000 pounds imposed on repeat breaches of the stipulated 14-day self-isolation period to control the spread of the virus. The new Covid cases are constantly rising in the UK. pti

According to the study, published in the journal Cytokine and Growth Factors Review, the inflammatory process identified in severe cases of Covid causes an uncontrolled and excessive release of cytokines — molecules in charge of organising the body’s defence. They added that controlling such a cytokine “storm” is essential to treating the severe forms of the disease. — PTI