New treatment options for acute respiratory viral infections

Abstract

The treatment of acute respiratory viral infection remains an urgent public health problem. There are currently a limited number of drugs used for the treatment and prevention of this pathology with proven efficacy and safety. According to current views in the field of immunology, the most important role in immune protection against both viruses and bacteria is played by molecules and receptors that form the so-called “immune synapse”, understood as a contact of cells involved in the detection of an antigen and triggering the subsequent chain of reactions to destroy it. A complex antiviral drug that has the ability to modulate rather than block the activity of its target molecules is a product containing technologically treated antibodies to interferon gamma, CD4 and domains of the main histocompatibility complex. The combined action of its components helps to reduce the infection load on the body, reduce the severity of symptoms of SARS during the first days, reduce the duration of the infectious disease. The pharmacological effect of the drug is achieved by acting on the key molecules and receptors involved in the recognition of pathogens of both viral and bacterial origin by the immune system. In addition, the product has a direct effect on IFN-γ, which results in stopping the multiplication of viruses and protecting healthy cells from infection. The use of the antibody-based drug reduces the risk of complications and helps to increase the body’s resistance to the main pathogens of viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. According to the results of clinical trials, this drug has shown high efficacy and safety in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections (ARI) in adults. The use of antibody-based medicine in paediatric acute respiratory infections and COVID-19 treatment in an outpatient setting is currently being investigated in multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trials.