Among the Omicron strains of the new coronavirus, the University of Tokyo has confirmed the effect of oral medicine against new mutant viruses such as "BQ.1.1", which has been increasing in detection rate in Japan. research group announced.
This research was conducted by a group led by Project Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, and was published in the medical journal "New England Journal of Medicine."
The research group conducted experiments using various therapeutic drugs to see if they could suppress the growth of ``BQ.1.1'' and another mutated virus ``XBB'' taken from patients, which are said to be more likely to escape immunity.
As a result, the oral drugs "Lagebrio" and "Pakilobid", as well as the antiviral drug "remdesivir" administered by intravenous drip, have the same effect of suppressing the growth of the conventional virus and "BA.5" that spread at the beginning. I found out that it was about
On the other hand, antibody drugs that administer artificially produced antibodies are said to be significantly less effective.
Currently, the main infection is "BA.5", but the rate of detection of "BQ.1.1" was 7% in the week until the middle of last month in Tokyo, and new mutant viruses are increasing. .
Professor Kawaoka says, "I think it's very good news that antiviral drugs are effective."