Known active ingredient as new drug candidate against mpox
Date:
March 22, 2023
Source:
Goethe University Frankfurt
Summary:
Mpox -- previously known as 'monkeypox' -- is currently spreading
worldwide. Researchers have now identified a compound that could
help fight the disease.
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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Mpox -- previously known as "monkeypox" -- is currently spreading
worldwide. An international research team from Goethe University and
the University of Kent has now identified a compound that could help
fight the disease. Their study has been published in the Journal of
Medical Virology.
========================================================================== Nitroxoline is the name of the new drug candidate that could potentially
be used to treat mpox. It was identified by scientists at Goethe
University and the University of Kent as part of a multi-site study. The results of their research will now allow clinical trials to begin soon.
The current mpox outbreak is the first of this size to occur outside
of Africa and also the first mpox outbreak caused by human-to-human transmission. People with immunodeficiencies are particularly at risk
from the disease. Although antiviral agents have already been shown
to inhibit the replication of the mpox virus in experimental models,
the efficacy of these substances has not yet been confirmed in humans
and some may have significant side effects. In addition, there are
insufficient stocks to treat all mpox patients. Moreover, resistance
formation against tecovirimat, the most promising mpox drug candidate
to date, has already been reported.
In the present study, the international team led by Professor Jindrich
Cinatl (of Goethe University Frankfurt and the Dr. Petra Joh-Research Institute) and Professor Martin Michaelis (School of Biosciences,
University of Kent) has identified nitroxoline, a well-tolerated
antibiotic, as a potential treatment alternative for the mpox virus
based on experiments using cell culture and skin explant models.
Nitroxoline is also effective against a tecovirimat-resistant strain of
the mpox virus, as well as other bacterial and viral pathogens that are frequently co-transmitted with mpox viruses, meaning it simultaneously suppresses multiple pathogens that are often involved in severe courses
of mpox. Since nitroxoline is a well-tolerated antibiotic that has long
been used to treat humans, it can be tested directly against mpox in
clinical trials.
"The emergence of resistant virus strains is a cause of great concern,"
says Professor Jindrich Cinatl of Goethe University and the Dr. Petra Joh-Research Institute. "It is very reassuring that nitroxoline is
effective against a tecovirimat-resistant virus." Professor Martin
Michaelis of the University of Kent adds: "The more different drugs become available to treat viral diseases, the better. We hope that nitroxoline
will turn out to be an effective treatment for mpox patients."
* RELATED_TOPICS
o Health_&_Medicine
# Pharmacology # Viruses # Infectious_Diseases #
HIV_and_AIDS
o Plants_&_Animals
# Virology # Microbes_and_More # Biology # Bacteria
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========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Goethe_University_Frankfurt. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Denisa Bojkova, Nadja Zo"ller, Manuela Tietgen, Katja Steinhorst,
Marco
Bechtel, Tamara Rothenburger, Joshua D. Kandler, Julia Schneider,
Victor M. Corman, Sandra Ciesek, Holger F. Rabenau, Mark N. Wass,
Stefan Kippenberger, Stephan Go"ttig, Martin Michaelis, Jindrich
Cinatl.
Repurposing of the antibiotic nitroxoline for the treatment of mpox.
Journal of Medical Virology, 2023; 95 (3) DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28652 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230322190939.htm
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