On the way to the drug? Israel was selected as one of 8 countries participating in the experiment in "Kabzarah" • Infectious Disease Specialist: "Hope there will be a new tool for fighting the virus"

The first clinical trial in Israel for the drug for Corona began: Israel will be among the first countries to join an innovative drug trial that may help Corona patients. A 64-year-old, middle-aged corona patient admitted to the Sheba Corona Department was the first in Israel to receive the "Kabzara" drug - a drug approved for arthritis, which may help treat the Corona's severe symptoms.

Corona virus questions and answers // Photo: Ministry of Health

This is a significant addition to a number of very limited treatments currently available to the hard corona patients. All are experimental treatments, and none are proven.

Israel was selected as one of the only eight countries in the world to be researched by French pharmaceutical giant Sanopi. The study will take about two months, and about 40 Corona patients in the country (and about 300 in the world) will receive the treatment of Sheba, Assuta Ashdod and Hadassah Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. This is the first clinical study in the country to treat corona.

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The study aims to monitor the safety and efficacy of the drug in a controlled manner, which is believed to also help patients infected with Corona and hospitalized in serious condition. To date, patients in Israel who are in serious condition have received several experimental drugs under "compassionate treatment" (medicines that are not contraindicated for treating the disease), and it is not known which drug has, if any, improved their condition. In order for major health agencies in the world (such as the US Food and Drug Administration) to approve a drug for mass use, it is necessary to rely on established clinical studies.

Sanofi decided to do research on the drug, after it became clear that patients in China who received a similar component, not in a research setting, responded well to it, so it was decided to test the treatment in a controlled manner through international research.

"In emergencies like epidemics, there is a tendency to give all kinds of treatments, and there is a fear of harm rather than benefit. So, at Sheba, we decided as a strategy that can be cured in clinical trials, and the first study that began was with this drug," explains Dr. Itzik Levy, an infectious disease expert and director of the AIDS clinic. In Sheba. ”Cubid Disease 19 consists of two stages. In the first part as a result of the virus invasion of the body there is initial damage such as cough and symptoms. In the second part, a strong immune response to the virus is called a 'cytokine storm', where there is an increased secretion of cytokines which are proteins that cause inflammation. This is a turbulent response that causes damage to health, the heart and other systems. "

There is currently no proven treatment for the same inflammatory response. It is believed that treatment with quarantine may reduce the substances that cause inflammation, especially the interleukin protein, so that the patient can recover. In fact, corona patients do not die directly from the virus itself but as a result of an infection that causes the same severe immune response that causes acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The patients in the study will be divided into three groups - some will receive the drug at high doses, some will receive the drug at a low dose and some will receive a placebo (placebo). The drug will only be given in hospitals and is given by subcutaneous infusion. The study is expected to take about two months, and it is estimated that within a few weeks it will be possible to get an initial snapshot of the effect of treatment.

Prof. Galia Rahab, director of the Sheba Infectious Diseases Unit, was the one to give the first patient treatment. "Doctors today feel frustrated that patients are deteriorating and dying and we have nothing to give. So we insisted on starting the study. We went patient-patient and found the right ones. Patients who are in moderate condition can receive the treatment. The treatment should be given before the condition deteriorates, so the drug can make an impact."

The 64-year-old woman who received the treatment said: "This is a woman who is not yet breathing and in a mediocre condition. In a regular study, a patient signs us a consent form, but it is not a normal condition. I spoke to her and her husband and sent her a written message in Wetsap. She gave her consent: "I am ready to participate in the research. With the help of God we will succeed."

Dr. Levy concluded: "I really hope that we can put in our ammunition warehouse a new tool to fight the virus, and that we find the right way."

The number of possible treatments not yet proven against Corona is very limited. One of the treatments in question, the drug Remedisibir, which is given as compassionate treatment and in the coming days, an intriguing study concerning its effectiveness is expected, sought after worldwide and not available in Israel in recent weeks. The guidelines issued by the Pharmacy Organization also state that "requests for compassionate treatment will not be accepted except for pregnant women and children under 18".

An experimental drug came from Japan

Other possible experimental therapies are chloroquine or Falconville (malaria and lupus), anti-celteria, HIV, Actamara drug for arthritis and an antiviral drug called xoplose. Also, in recent days, delivery of the drug Avigen came to Israel, which is also currently being considered as an effective response to the treatment of corona disease. This drug came to Israel following the cooperation of the Israeli Embassy in Japan, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Health, the procurement officer and medical centers Hadassah and Ichilov, which will also lead the Israeli trial of the drug.