Among other strategies to beat the novel coronavirus, researchers at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are also repurposing existing drugs. And one of their latest candidates – Sepsivac, a commercial drug used to treat patients with gram-negative sepsis – seems to offer some promise.
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Key-Points
The drug contains heat-killed Mycobacterium W (Mw). Extensive clinical trials have been conducted by Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd on preventing deaths against gram-negative Sepsis, with more than 50% reduction in deaths of critically ill patients.
CSIR, through its flagship New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program, has been supporting Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad, since 2007 for developing this drug to save lives of critically ill patients suffering from Gram-negative Sepsis.
This entire development effort (pre-clinical and clinical studies) has been supervised by CSIR appointed Monitoring Committee. The faster recovery of organ dysfunction seen in this condition. It is now approved for marketing in India.
