Regorafenib Inhibits Inflammasome Activation and Shows Potential for Treating Severe COVID-19
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 04, 2025 1 month, 2 days, 22 hours, 23 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists Explore Regorafenib as a Possible Treatment for Severe COVID-19
A team of researchers from Chungbuk National University College of Medicine and Medical Research Center in South Korea has been investigating the potential of regorafenib, a well-known cancer drug, as a treatment for severe COVID-19. Their study, recently published in a peer-reviewed journal, suggests that regorafenib could help mitigate the deadly inflammatory response associated with severe cases of the disease.
Regorafenib Inhibits Inflammasome Activation and Shows Potential for Treating Severe COVID-19
This
Medical News report provides an overview of their findings, which reveal how regorafenib reduces inflammation and increases survival rates in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Their results could pave the way for further research into repurposing this existing medication to combat the severe complications of the virus.
The Need for New Treatments for Severe COVID-19
COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths worldwide, particularly among older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Severe cases often involve excessive inflammation, known as a cytokine storm, which can lead to organ failure and death. Researchers have been searching for drugs that can reduce this inflammatory response without compromising the immune system’s ability to fight the virus.
Regorafenib, originally developed for treating colorectal cancer and other malignancies, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Previous research has suggested that it may help with lung diseases linked to aging and chronic inflammation. Given these properties, scientists decided to explore whether regorafenib could also be useful in treating severe COVID-19.
Study Findings on Regorafenib and COVID-19
The research team conducted experiments on genetically modified mice known as K18-hACE2 mice, which express the human ACE2 receptor, making them highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Infected mice that did not receive treatment experienced 100% mortality within ten days. However, mice treated with regorafenib showed significantly improved survival rates, with approximately 43% remaining alive.
The scientists discovered that regorafenib works by suppressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a protein complex that plays a key role in the body’s inflammatory response. In severe COVID-19 cases, overactivation of this inflammasome contributes to excessive inflammation, leading to lung damage and organ failure.
By inhibiting the inflammasome, regorafenib reduced the levels of harmful inflammatory molecules, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and other cytokines. These molecules are responsible for triggering the cytokine storm, and their suppression may explain the improved survival rates observed in the study.
Additional Mechanisms of Action
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Further analysis showed that regorafenib also suppressed the activation of type I and II interferon signaling pathways. These pathways are crucial for the immune system’s response to viral infections but can contribute to severe inflammation when excessively activated. The drug’s ability to regulate these pathways suggests that it could help balance the immune response in COVID-19 patients, preventing excessive inflammation while still allowing the body to fight the virus effectively.
Another important finding was that regorafenib did not directly reduce the levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs of infected mice. Instead, its protective effects were mainly due to its ability to control inflammation and prevent the damage caused by an overactive immune response. This suggests that regorafenib could be used alongside antiviral drugs rather than as a standalone treatment.
Implications for Future Research
The promising results of this study highlight the potential of regorafenib as a treatment for severe COVID-19. However, further research is needed to determine whether these findings can be replicated in human patients. Clinical trials would be necessary to assess the drug’s safety and effectiveness in people suffering from severe COVID-19.
Additionally, scientists need to explore the optimal dosage and treatment schedule for regorafenib in COVID-19 patients. Since the drug is already approved for cancer treatment, researchers may be able to fast-track clinical trials and repurpose it for use in COVID-19 therapy if further studies confirm its benefits.
Conclusion
The findings from this study suggest that regorafenib could be a valuable tool in the fight against severe COVID-19. By suppressing excessive inflammation and improving survival rates, the drug offers a potential new treatment option for patients at high risk of complications. However, additional research and clinical trials are essential before regorafenib can be widely used for this purpose.
If further studies confirm its effectiveness, regorafenib could be repurposed to help reduce COVID-19 mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations. This breakthrough could offer hope in the ongoing battle against the virus and provide a new avenue for managing severe cases more effectively.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: FEBS Open Bio.
https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2211-5463.70002
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