Regarding "BA.2", one of the Omicron strains of the new coronavirus, groups such as the University of Tokyo have found that all three types of antiviral drugs used in Japan are effective as a result of experiments using cultured cells. Announced that.
This research was published in the American medical journal "New England Journal of Medicine" by a group of Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo.
The group infected cultured monkey cells with the "BA.2" strain of virus, administered various therapeutic agents, and investigated the effects.
As a result, the three types of antiviral drugs approved in Japan, "Lagebrio," "Pakirovid Pack," and "Remdesivir," are up to three times more effective than conventional strains. , It was necessary to increase the concentration, but it was confirmed that all of them had a sufficient effect on "BA.2".
In addition, although some effects were seen with the two types of antibody drugs used in Japan, they were about 1/50 to 1/60 of the conventional strains.
In the future, the group will further verify the effect through animal experiments.
Professor Kawaoka said, "It is certain that antiviral drugs are effective, so it is important to create a system that allows as many people as possible to access these drugs."