Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Adroit Biomed has developed orally-dissolving mini effervescent tablet to prevent, manage and recover from COVID-19, a company statement said.
It added that currently, the prevalent approach is to contain the spread of the virus by reducing inter-personal contacts and vaccination. An alternative strategy could involve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the known risk factors and to correct them, when possible, as a prevention/treatment of the disease. The decrease of glutathione (GSH) is one of the biochemical alterations identified as being linked to the risk factors through several clinical research papers globally.
GSH has been used clinically through oral, topical and intravenous route for many years. Several randomised controlled trials and extensive medical literature on GSH have shown the safety and efficacy of this molecule as an antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent. When the world is struggling to combat a record surge in infections and fatalities with this second wave, Adroit Biomed repurposes the use of glutathione for prevention, management and recovery from COVID-19, the statement further said.
“GSH, also known as the master anti-oxidant, has been known for its effective immunity-generating properties. However, one of its lesser-known properties, as an anti-inflammatory agent, has not been in the focus until now. Research published in international journals are evaluating the possible role of glutathione in protecting against the severe inflammatory response triggered by COVID-19 infection,” said Dr Anish Desai Director Strategic Medical Affairs, Adroit Biomed.
Experts believe somewhere between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of COVID-19 patients develop long-term symptoms, including fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog, shortness of breath and gastrointestinal problems, though the severity of these can vary, mentioned the statement.
Clinical studies reveal that increase in blood glutathione levels elevate Natural Killer (NK) cell activity upto 400 times and increase lymphocyte proliferation. Glutathione is also well-studied for its anti-inflammatory activity and may prevent cytokine storm. A case report from Russia has documented the association of low glutathione levels with higher severity of infections. Additionally, glutathione’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and muscle-reparative activities help to recover faster post-infection, it added.