Two Common Over-the-Counter Compounds Reduce COVID-19 Virus Replication by 99% in Early Testing

Science Tech Daily ^ | December 12, 2021 | University of Florida Health

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A pair of over-the-counter compounds has been found in preliminary tests to inhibit the virus that causes COVID-19, University of Florida Health researchers have found.

The combination includes diphenhydramine, an antihistamine used for allergy symptoms. When paired with lactoferrin, a protein found in cow and human milk, the compounds were found to hinder the SARS-CoV-2 virus during tests in monkey cells and human lung cells.

The findings by David A. Ostrov, Ph.D., an immunologist and associate professor in the UF College of Medicine’s department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine and his colleagues, are published in the journal Pathogens.

“We found out why certain drugs are active against the virus that causes COVID-19. Then, we found an antiviral combination that can be effective, economical, and has a long history of safety,” Ostrov said. Sigma Receptors

Molecular docking of sigma-2 receptor ligands that exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Credit: University of Florida

Due to his earlier research with colleagues at UF, Ostrov already knew diphenhydramine was potentially effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The latest discovery has its roots in a routine meeting of scientists with the Global Virus Network’s COVID-19 task force. One researcher presented unpublished data on federally approved compounds that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 activity, including lactoferrin.

Like diphenhydramine, lactoferrin is available without a prescription. Ostrov thought about pairing it with diphenhydramine and ran with the idea. In lab tests on human and monkey cells, the combination was particularly potent: Individually, the two compounds each inhibited SARS-CoV-2 virus replication by about 30%. Together, they reduced virus replication by 99%.

The findings, Ostrov said, are a first step in developing a formulation that could be used to accelerate COVID-19 recovery. It also raises the prospect of further study through an academic-corporate partnership for human clinical trials focused on COVID-19 prevention. Additional research into the compounds’ effectiveness for COVID-19 prevention is already underway in mouse models.

To establish their findings, the research team focused on proteins expressed in human cells known as sigma receptors. In COVID-19 cases, the virus “hijacks” stress-response machinery, including sigma receptors, in order to replicate in the body. Interfering with that signaling appears to be the key to inhibiting the virus’s potency. “We now know the detailed mechanism of how certain drugs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection,” Ostrov said.

Data from the experiments show that a highly specific sigma receptor binding drug candidate (with pain relieving properties), and formulated combinations of over-the-counter products (such as diphenhydramine and lactoferrin) have the potential to inhibit virus infection and decrease recovery time from COVID-19, the researchers concluded.

While the findings are encouraging, Ostrov cautions against self-medicating with either diphenhydramine or lactoferrin as a COVID-19 prevention or treatment. The type of lactoferrin used in the research differs slightly from the type that is commonly available to consumers, he noted. Lactoferrin is commonly used as a supplement to treat stomach and intestinal ulcers, among other uses.

Reference: “Highly Specific Sigma Receptor Ligands Exhibit Anti-Viral Properties in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Cells” by David A. Ostrov, Andrew P. Bluhm, Danmeng Li, Juveriya Qamar Khan, Megha Rohamare, Karthic Rajamanickam, Kalpana K. Bhanumathy, Jocelyne Lew, Darryl Falzarano, Franco J. Vizeacoumar, Joyce A. Wilson, Marco Mottinelli, Siva Rama Raju Kanumuri, Abhisheak Sharma, Christopher R. McCurdy and Michael H. Norris, 20 November 2021, Pathogens. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111514

Scientists from UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute, College of Pharmacy and Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency collaborated on the research.

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Tomorrow's headline: "Lactoferrin Banned By Fauci"

Hope I'm wrong...

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A bit of good news to start your day...

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

The false positive rate was 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

Quarantine the sick. Protect the vulnerable. Hang the guilty. Free everyone else.

[BipolarBob]

bkmk

[ConservativeMind]

Prior thread:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4020756/posts

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[aces]

https://rumble.com/vqmst3-traitor-joe-biden.html

Traitor Joe

[EBH]

Children generally drink a lot of milk. There is about 100mg/L in whole milk. I wonder if this is why Covid is not affecting the children like it does adults?

[billyboy15]

Dyphenhydramine is something I have been using for yrs as a sleep aid (50mg) and it works wonders for me. Amazing how many things can defeat this man made China Virus.

Democrats will not like this...:-)

[ThunderSleeps]

Agreed. We can expect the political/medical types to embrace and promote this good news far and wide... Who am I kidding. We know it will be ignored by the MSM/FDA et. al. If it gets too much attention they will come out discrediting it and banning the use of it - maybe threaten doctors or pharmacists.

[solachristo]

what were the dosages.

[Ann Archy]

Me TOO! Every night!

[null and void]

Chat??? Well OK, I’ve asked the Mod Squad to lock this thread and direct people to chat for a topic that has been the #1 livelihood destroyer for 2 years.

Chat. Yeah right, chat.

[rktman]

Nursing moms/wet nurses go into hiding.

[null and void]

Yeah. There goes my weekend.

[a real Sheila]

oh it WILL happen.
In this crazy climate, nursing moms will also be locked away “for their safety.”

[GaltMeister]

You have to wonder if the FDA will order these taken off the shelf now.

[Sacajaweau]

Fauci is stuck on vaccines. He pulled the same cr** with AIDS.

[mewzilla]

Folks should just keep in mind that in some necks of the woods, driving with diphenhydramine in your system can get you a DUI.

[billyboy15]

“Folks should just keep in mind that in some necks of the woods, driving with diphenhydramine in your system can get you a DUI.”

And where would that be?

[Jewbacca]

And pharmacist move Benadryl behind the counter and interrogate you.