What Are The Chances Of Developing A Covid-19 Cure?

Research scientists and medical professionals worldwide are working diligently to produce a vaccine or a cure for the novel coronavirus. The Covid-19 pandemic has seemingly come out of nowhere. Just three months ago, we were planning our summer vacations, heading out for meals with friends, and enjoying days in the park. These days have shifted into something resembling a new normal. However, to get back to the days where social distancing wasn’t a priority, we need a cure, or better still, a vaccine, to help us fight this virus and banish it from our lives. Take a look at this assessment of whether we are any closer to a Covid-19 cure or vaccine.

Trials

As of the second week in May, the FDA authorized the use of three specific medicines to treat coronavirus. One of these included the highly controversial hydroxychloroquine. These drugs have significant side effects and are not seen as a long term solution to the Covid-19 crisis. They are not curative, but may ease symptoms.

Rather than creating new drugs, the British Journal of Pharmacology has suggested trialing drugs that are already used to treat other illnesses in the fight against coronavirus. The aim is to keep the virus at bay, preventing it from even entering the body. If it does infect the cells of the human body, scientists want to limit replication and ensure that death does not occur in the most vulnerable sufferers. This is why a whole host of antivirals are being trialed across the world. Many of these involve the same drugs used to treat malaria and HIV.

Vaccines

An effective vaccine is the Holy Grail in terms of beating Covid-19 and helping the world return to normal. With a vaccine, populations will be immune to the virus. It ensures that the human body already has the antibodies required to fight the virus before it causes any symptoms.

Many research scientists and private medical companies are filling up their vaccine fridges with a variety of experimental samples. Many have already gone to human trials, including one particularly promising trial in Oxford, England. There are over one hundred projects globally attempting to find a vaccine. These teams are working to create a vaccine using different methods from antibody research to T-Cell boosting compounds. While a vaccine usually takes five or ten years to develop, overcoming this virus is so critical that a vaccine is expected by 2021, should trials go well and traditional bureaucracy be bypassed.

However, as with the HIV virus, a vaccine may never be found. This could result in a much more challenging route needing to be found to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. In the Netherlands, they are looking to the TB vaccine to help design an effective Covid-19 equivalent, but there is no guarantee that this will work.

Investment is needed, but no amount of money will ensure that a vaccine is found. A rush towards an ineffective or side effect-laden vaccine may do more harm than good. As of the current moment, there is a positive will to seek a vaccine, but nothing concrete as yet.