Researchers have discovered that a new drug compound can prevent long COVID symptoms in mice, a major breakthrough that could pave the way for future treatment of this debilitating condition.
In this world-first study, mice treated with the antiviral compound, developed by a multidisciplinary team at WEHI, were protected from long-term brain and lung dysfunction, two hallmark symptoms of long COVID.
The research team hopes these groundbreaking results will lead to clinical trials and eventually the first approved treatment for the condition.
Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.
First identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19, or Coronavirus disease 2019, (which was originally called "2019 novel coronavirus" or 2019-nCoV) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has spread globally, resulting in the 2019–22 coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 (PASC), is a chronic illness marked by symptoms that persist for weeks or months after the initial infection.
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