Breakthrough Research On Severe COVID-19 Infections Opens Door To New Treatment

Now, researchers have discovered the role of a critical protein which could open the door to a new potential COVID-19 treatment.

The research highlights the potential for interferon-based therapies to expand a range of non-vaccine-related treatments, like Gilead's remdesivir and convalescent plasma.

Research shows the timing of medical intervention is also critical.

On Thursday, a global consortium of researchers said such immune reactions to the protein could account for life-threatening pneumonia in at least 2.6% of women and 12.5% of men that causes inflammation in the patient's lungs.

Findings from the research offer the first explanation for the significantly higher mortality rate seen in male and elderly COVID-19 patients.

Interferon-blocking antibodies appeared in 101 of 987 patients with severe disease, but none of the 663 people with an asymptomatic or mild case, according to the research being published in "Science".

Patients over 65 were also more likely than younger ones to have the autoimmune abnormality, which was "Clinically silent until the patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2," said a group of more than 100 scientists said.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/breakthrough-research-severe-covid-19-infections-opens-door-new-treatment