Name: Chinese scientists believe new drug can stop pandemic 'without vaccine'
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Chinese scientists believe new drug can stop pandemic 'without vaccine'

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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese laboratory has been developing a drug it believes has the power to bring the coronavirus pandemic to a halt.The outbreak first emerged in China late last year before spreading across the world, prompting an international race to find treatments and vaccines.A drug being tested by scientists at China's prestigious Peking University could not only shorten the recovery time for those infected, but even offer short-term immunity from the virus, researchers say.Sunney Xie, director of the university's Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, told AFP that the drug has been successful at the animal testing stage."When we injected neutralising antibodies into infected mice, after five days the viral load was reduced by a factor of 2,500," said Xie."That means this potential drug has [a] therapeutic effect."The drug uses neutralising antibodies — produced by the human immune system to prevent the virus infecting cells — which Xie's team isolated from the blood of 60 recovered patients.A study on the team's research, on Sunday in the scientific journal Cell, suggests that using the antibodies provides a potential "cure" for the disease and shortens recovery time.Xie said his team had been working "day and night" searching for the antibody."Our expertise is single-cell genomics rather than immunology or virology. When we realised that the single-cell genomic approach can effectively find the neutralising antibody we were thrilled."He added that the drug should be ready for use later this year and in time for any potential winter outbreak of the virus, which has infected 4.8 million people around the world and killed more than 315,000."Planning for the clinical trial is underway," said Xie, adding it will be carried out in Australia and other countries since cases have dwindled in China, offering fewer human guinea pigs for testing."The hope is these neutralised antibodies can become a specialised drug that would stop the pandemic," he said.China already has five potential coronavirus vaccines at the human trial stage, a health official said last week.But the World Health Organisation has warned that developing a vaccine could take 12 to 18 months.Scientists have also pointed to the potential benefits of plasma — a blood fluid — from recovered individuals who have developed antibodies to the virus enabling the body's defences to attack it.More than 700 patients have received plasma therapy in China, a process which authorities said showed "very good therapeutic effects"."However, it (plasma) is limited in supply," Xie said, noting that the 14 neutralising antibodies used in their drug could be put into mass production quickly.Using antibodies in drug treatments is not a new approach, and it has been successful in treating several other viruses such as HIV, Ebola and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).Xie said his researchers had "an early start" since the outbreak started in China before spreading to other countries.Ebola drug Remdesivir was considered a for Covid-19 — clinical trials in the US showed it shortened the recovery time in some patients by a third — but the difference in mortality rate was not significant.The new drug could even offer short-term protection against the virus.The study showed that if the neutralising antibody was injected before the mice were infected with the virus, the mice stayed free of infection and no virus was detected.This may offer temporary protection for medical workers for a few weeks, which Xie said they are hoping to "extend to a few months".More than 100 are in the works globally, but as the process of vaccine development is more demanding, Xie is hoping that the new drug could be a faster and more efficient way to stop the global march of the coronavirus."We would be able to stop the pandemic with an effective drug, even without a vaccine," he said.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementComments (91) ClosedNever trust Chinese. Period.But who believes Chinese scientists??great, create a problem then sell solution. #typicalchineseGreat news, hope they get the drug out soon.This is the 4th news have heard in last few months about Chinese getting a solution for corona. Desperate PR attempt by China.@Sudhanshu,Even Americans cannot prove China's negligence. But whole world saw China's unparalleled control of the pandemic.Message to the Chinese - Thanks, but no thanks.There is a serious trust deficit and no one wants to even come anywhere close to made-in-china stuff in the immediate future.@Sudhanshu,Why you buy so much from them?World will buy your drugs. But please, please stop eating anything that moves. Stick to chicken, fish and mutton. You guys cause disease every few decades.@Sudhanshu, Says an Indian.@Fastrack, so when are you outsourcing your Corona fight to China?China had developed the medicine and even vaccine well before introducing it's virus to the world, it was his game planLooks like better than Remdesivir, if the clinical trials passed satisfactory, and therapeutic effects are proven. Let the new drug come to market, ASAP.Chinese are worst .....they only created the virus@Fastrack, Just wait and watch brother.This drug should be produced by Pakistan Farma and should be experimented in Pakistan first,@Sudhanshu, we in India have Gau Mutr, proven by our swamis to be perfect treatment.I would put my trust in the Chinese.....that is where the future is.@Fastrack, thats why china blocked investigation with the help of kalia tadros.First try this vaccine or medicine on chinese president.Well done. Only China has the ability to tackle. Rest all is big talk.@Fastrack, China hide the actual impact, What we are seeing is false.Blessings for the initiative. Pakistan and China, EU, US, reference to the WHO Covid-19 are on the same family of enthusiasm.Infact we are being supported by the WHO, our scientists/researchers, doctors are working day/night for various remedies to address the issue.Pakistan being the closest country reference to our WHO family which has both China, Pakistan should do joint research in Pakistan/China and WHO in Geneva.Either or with our networks linked together from China, Pakistan, Who Geneva should not be shy, to join hands of our volunteers, researchers, world wide. OOur high speed internet Broadband are fully assertive day and night researchers but we should do joint research on communication network reccomended by WHO Covid-19.With best wishesI knew it. They always had the antidote. Now they will exploit their game. The world will however get back on China and its allies one day.China must pay Coronavirus Compensation money to the world.@Fastrack,Who will believe China?Chines can do anything, they are intelligent and brave people.Congratulations Pakistan for this discovery.Surprisingly a very well written publication. The work done is impressive but the sample size is too small. This should be repeated with an n of 6 to 8 and not 3. There's a mention of clinical trials in the paper but a hurried review didn't clarify if the same amplified effective therapy or something similar to it was being used in the trials. Obviously the rush in the current crisis might've led to clinical trials after such a small study that hasn't been peer reviewed.Holds some promise for now but it remains to be seen if in vivo in humans will generate a response similar to the one seen in transgenic mice. Still the sample size it too small. Not sure if I am being biased but the results also appear too good to be true. But what if there are no lies and deceit and it is a good study then we probably should anticipate seeing something concrete within 3-4 months from now.What is the name of the new Chinese drug, and extracted from where?@Fastrack, That is your and Pakistani view, not of the world.China has very little credibility left.Bring it on.Game Changer !!!!!China developed it before pandemic started.Good newsThey will try this medicine in Pakistan first.There is no cure for corona.dont fool people.never trust Made in china@noam, every one not cow-worshipper.@Srihari, desperate is India in promoting it's cow-refuses as solutions for all ailments.Trusting China is going to be hard for people especially since we still do not know the truth about what really happened. How did this orginate were they testing bio chemicals &amp; someone accidentally got infected? If so why are they making bio weapons when nuclear war heads are not allowed, why are we allowing testing of bio disease? WHY?Chinese claim needs to be proved .@Parvez,They are good for making plastic toys.. that's all@Omi, Extracted from Western labs.If Chinese scientists were this capable, this pandemic would have never started on the first place. Why they didnt raise concerns when Chinese population were setting up the wet markets and eating wild animals. And they had a lead time of several months before other countries catch up on this viruses@Sudhanshu, Goamutor is the solution of COVIND 19 ,discovered by IndiaHelloChina shall give it free to poor friendly countries for its testing.Why all comments from likely Indian are negative about China and this medicine? At least Chines are not suggesting to drink "Gauo Muttra" to cure Corona virus.They created this thing and probably have the cure too. This was a test. Worried about what else the Chinese will unleash on the world in the future.Scientist all over the work are working day and night to develop something that could prevent or treat the virus infection. Our government and public, however, are trying their best to ensure as few Pakistanis are left as possible by the time a solution for the virus becomes available.@Sudhanshu, racist@M. Emad, but an American lady brought it to china@Dr.Kurji, Did you try? Must have worked for you.China will test it on its and Pakistanis. Then the two countries will emerge out of this pandemic and the rest will continue to watch.Well done! Great nation of China is leading in hard work ingenuity. Thank you researchers and great leaders of a great nation.Jealous nay sayers can't stop the rise of a great Chinese nation.Finally the relief will come from China.China is solely responsible for where it stands today in world politics. It is desperate to win old friends but after Wuhan Virus - the Trust Factor has been lost.Please test it on Pakisatani first to check efficacyChinese are masters of reverse engineering..dont underestimate them..they have proved it..cant u see@Sudhanshu, Trust Indian instead?Good news.Don't believe ChineseNo China. China out.Great , thank you ChinaOpportunity for Chinese to make quick bucks, before proper medicines hit the market. Pakistan will be the first customer.If the medicine is created by taking blood/ antobodies from Covid-19 patients then it will never be able to get created on a mass level. No need to have this kind of solution, period.I wonder those who are criticizing would ever use this drug once it is in market?As reliable as their test kits!!Please spare us the cheap Chinese products alongwith viruses, at least now!@Dinesh, and many will die unfortunately.China knew this virus is deadly and they contained this virus in Wuhan and Hubei did not let spread to rest of provinces in China but they were able to spread entire world. Does not matter this virus is man created or came out of wet market, but China should be held responsible of deaths and economic damages. Leave rest of the world close to thousand people lost their lives in Pakistan alone. After witnessing all these how could one believe in them?What is the difference between what these Chines are saying and that what Dow university scientists are doing? Plasma therapy is nothing new.There is a tremendours financial incentive for all to find a cure and Chinese have the head start. It should go through the same level of testing and trials as any other medicine, both by Chinese and others.It will be cruelty of the worst kind to not give a medicine to dying humans and not allow starving people to go to work, all due to politics and or racial biases. Where is the humanity?@M. Ahmed, dream on! China is only good in creating cheap and dangerous products.@jaredlee007, come out with success. Or failure?After lot of thinking I think China messed up virus and messed up Pakistan economy making it poor!@Dr.Kurji , most will be my own PakistanisThen please mass produce it and share.@Fastrack, In black and white! wait and see!Chinese can make a major breakthrough in coronavirus treatment. They are aggressive in developing drug to cure the patients. Their hard work will be paid off for sure. China is rising .whether the Chinese produce new drug or not is not the important matter to be considered at present ....they should not produce a new virus and let it go through the world....the most everyone wants...We hope china will first in the world who succeed in vaccine or some medicine discovery for Covid-19.Pakistan would be the first to receive this medicineShould provide it at cost or free to the World.If so, then bring it on.China should send and trial the drug in Pakistan.Nobody wants Chinese drugs anymore.I won't touch even with 100 ft pole.Another congrates to Humanity ! 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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese laboratory has been developing a drug it believes has the power to bring the coronavirus pandemic to a halt.The outbreak first emerged in China late last year before spreading across the world, prompting an international race to find treatments and vaccines.A drug being tested by scientists at China's prestigious Peking University could not only shorten the recovery time for those infected, but even offer short-term immunity from the virus, researchers say.Sunney Xie, director of the university's Beijing Advanced Innovation...

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Chinese scientists believe new drug can stop pandemic 'without vaccine'

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