RETRACTED: Efficacy of novel antibody-based drugs against rhinovirus infection: In vitro and in vivo results

Abstract

Rhinoviruses (RVs) cause the common cold and are associated with exacerbations of chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases, especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have assessed the antiviral drugs Anaferon for Children (AC) and Ergoferon (containing AC as one of the active pharmaceutical ingredients) in in vitro and in vivo experimental models, in order to evaluate their anti-rhinoviral and immunomodulatory potential. HeLa cells were pretreated with AC, and levels of the interferon-stimulated gene (ISG), 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1-A) and viral replication were analyzed. In a mouse model of RV-induced exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation we administered Ergoferon and analyzed its effect on type I (IFN-β), type II (IFN-γ) and type III (IFN-λ) IFNs induction, cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), cytokine (interleukin (IL)-4; IL-6) and chemokine (CXCL10/IP-10; CXCL1/KC) levels. It was shown that AC increased OAS1-А production and significantly decreased viral replication in vitro. Increased IFNs expression together with reduced neutrophils/lymphocytes recruitment and correlated IL-4/IL-6 declination was demonstrated for Ergoferon in vivo. However, there was no effect on examined chemokines. We conclude that AC and Ergoferon possess effects against RV infection and may have potential as novel therapies against RV-induced exacerbations of asthma.

Promising approaches for the treatment and prevention of viral respiratory illnesses

“…24,25 Novel antibody-based drugs with antirhinovirus and immunomodulatory effects act through IFN-b induction and suppression of T H 2 responses in experimental models. 26 The prototype synthetic Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 antagonist Eritoran (E5564) and anti-TLR4 IgG therapy have been shown to block IFV lethality in mice by suppressing lung pathology, clinical symptoms, and viral titers. 27,28 Other innate immune receptors, such as TLR2, also have potential for host-targeted therapeutic approaches.…”

Drug discovery today: no molecules required

“…Release-active ‘drugs’ (RADs)1–24 are manufactured by a single Russian company called OOO ‘NPF ‘Materia Medica Holding’ (MMH) 25 26. According to the original patent by its founder and CEO Epstein et al ,27 these preparations consist of ‘ activated forms of ultra-low doses of antibodies conventionally designated as potentiated (dynamised) antibodies (by analogy with the terminology used in homeopathic literature) for treatment of various pathological syndromes ’.…”

“…Notably, articles about RADs usually appear not in journals of complementary medicine, but in apparently respectable journals, published by PLOS, Springer, Elsevier and so on. Due to the large amount of such papers (we found >100 only in English),1–24 we were unable to investigate all of them, but the articles that we did analyse contained misleading descriptions of active substance concentrations, severe flaws in study design and methodology, as well as concealed conflict of interests (COI). In the designated section, authors did not mention that MMH manufactures and sells RADs and holds the corresponding patents.…”

“…During the last fifteen years, numerous peer-reviewed journals published articles about the incredible properties of so-called release-active “drugs” (RADs) 1–24. It is claimed that these “drugs” are effective against tick-borne encephalitis, influenza, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, meningococcal meningitis, herpes, HIV, and other viral and bacterial infections, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, sleep disorders, obesity, chronic inflammatory joint diseases, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic cerebral ischemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, alcoholism, allergies, and many other health problems 18 25.…”

Actual aspects of use of ergoferon in outpatient polyclinic practice

“…Эффективность Эргоферона в отношении риновирусной инфекции изучалась на модели осложнений бронхиальной астмы у мышей, где применение препарата способствовало статистически значимому увеличению экспрессии генов ИФН- и ИФН-γ, а также снижению инфильтрации клеток воспаления (лимфоциты, нейтрофилы) в легкие [23]. [26,27].…”