Indian Breakthrough: Cancer Drug Repurposed for COVID-19 Defense

In an extraordinary breakthrough, Indian scientists have identified a cancer research drug, SB431542, as a promising antiviral agent against COVID-19. The drug, which functions as an ALK5 inhibitor, demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in preclinical studies, even after prolonged exposure, without the coronavirus developing resistance.

This discovery is credited to a joint effort by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Leading the research, the National Centre for Veterinary Type Culture and the National Institute of Virology leveraged their expertise to bring this finding to light, potentially heralding a new tool in the fight against the ongoing pandemic.

If future human trials affirm its effectiveness, SB431542 could revolutionize COVID-19 treatments. This comes amid concerns that current solutions, like vaccines and drugs such as Remdesivir, face diminishing effectiveness due to viral mutations. By targeting specific virus-host interactions, SB431542 could play a critical role in curbing the pandemic's spread.

(With inputs from agencies.)