Hope in times of pandemic.
While the Covid-19 is spreading again in several European countries, including France, the Institut Pasteur de Lille claims to have found at the beginning of June a “very promising” molecule, in the words of its scientific director Benoît Deprez.
Like hydroxychloroquine, it is not a new molecule but a drug used to treat other pathologies.
This is also one of the reasons why its name is kept secret, the risk of creating a parallel market was important as was the case during the media coverage of the study by Professor Didier Raoult in Marseille.
This molecule has undergone multiple laboratory tests and displays “a very great power against the virus”, according to Benoît Deprez.
For the moment, research on this drug has only been carried out in the laboratory.
But clinical trials - the cost of which is estimated at five million euros - should be conducted this winter to try to ensure the effectiveness of this molecule, before a possible production for the use of Covid-19 patients. .
Interview with Xavier Nassif, doctor-researcher, professor of microbiology and director general of the Institut Pasteur de Lille, on this “discovery”.
France 24: Explain to us what the molecule discovered by the Institut Pasteur de Lille consists of?
Pr Xavier Nassif:
The molecule was discovered by repositioning (the action of finding a new therapeutic indication for an already existing drug for another disease, Editor's note).
There was a possibility of having access to a bank of 2,000 drugs at the start of this pandemic.
These 2,000 molecules have been repositioned, several molecules have been identified as active, but at doses high enough compared to the levels that could be used for these drugs.
The selected molecule is active and above all capable of inhibiting the replication (process of a virus which divides in human cells and multiplies, Editor's note) of the virus in cells at levels compatible with normal use in humans.
In addition, this molecule, which has been used for many years, causes little or no side effects and is relatively well tolerated.
It is therefore a good candidate.
Further studies have shown that this compound inhibits the replication of the virus in many cell lines in the laboratory - including in primitive human lung cell lines.
All these tests were done in vitro - in the laboratory - and we remain very careful because it will be necessary to confirm its effectiveness in in vivo models, that is to say to know whether this molecule will be able to inhibit as effectively as that is the replication of the virus in humans.
How does this discovery represent serious hope in the fight against Covid-19?
If it is shown that this molecule inhibits viral replication in humans, it can be used immediately.
It is a molecule that has several characteristics: it has already been given to humans without too many side effects and it is given enterally (via the digestive tract, Editor's note), not subcutaneously or via the route. intravenous.
It is clinical trials that will tell us what the best indications are.
This could prevent people from becoming very sick once infected.
It could also prevent contacts from becoming carriers of the virus.
The molecule, applied to asymptomatic subjects, could also prevent them from secreting the virus for too long, so from being in quarantine for a shorter period, for example.
It is at the end of these clinical trials that we will be able to say what the exact use will be and what the consequences will be on the management of the epidemic.
In the event of conclusive clinical trials, is it possible to produce this drug massively and at low cost?
The molecule we are talking about is not very expensive.
It will be up to the manufacturer who produces it to see what he can do.
We contacted him to inform him of our discovery.
He is very helpful, very cooperative, and I think that everything will be done to make this drug available.
On the assumption that this drug would be very effective and should be given on a very large scale, measures should be taken at the industrial level to meet the needs.
Are publications of your research planned in scientific journals?
Of course, this is expected.
We will first try to demonstrate the efficacy in vivo using a macaque model.
If there is any effectiveness in the latter, it is obvious that we will make a scientific publication.
We are impatiently awaiting this step.
If all goes well, the monkey experiments will be carried out in November.
Following these tests, we hope to be able to carry out the first tests in humans during the winter after having obtained the necessary authorizations.
It is likely that efficacy in monkeys would speed up the possibility of being able to perform the tests in humans.
What will the success of clinical trials depend on?
These clinical trials are expensive (there is talk of 5 million euros to collect, Editor's note).
We hope that the communication that has been made on our discovery will make it possible to generate donations and participation from various public and / or private funding sources.
For now, we have to find that money.
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