The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has decided to test its new drug, Sepsivac®, against Covid-19 in critically ill patients. The trial will involve 50 Covid-19 patients across the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi and Bhopal, as well as the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.
Unveiling Sepsivac: New Drug Against Sepsis
Recently approved for marketing in India, the new drug Sepsivac® will now become available commercially. Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited, based in Ahmedabad, developed this new pharmaceutical with support from CSIR laboratories led by the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu. Showing promise not only against sepsis, Sepsivac® has also been observed to provide effective treatment in leprosy patients.
Gram Negative Sepsis and Covid-19: A Comparative Insight
Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection spirals out of control, causing changes that can lead to multi-organ failure. Gram-negative bacteremia, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, is critical in patients with gram-negative sepsis. Gram-negative bacteria have evolved to resist drugs and can pass on their resistance to other bacteria. Scientists notice clinical similarities between gram-negative Sepsis and Covid-19; in both cases, an infection can trigger a cytokine storm, where an overactive immune response leads to the body attacking its own cells. This reaction causes inflammation and reduces the lung’s capacity to absorb oxygen.
Sepsivac’s Effectiveness: A Closer Look
Previous randomised trials with sepsis patients revealed a promising 11% absolute reduction and 55.5% relative reduction in mortality when treated with Sepsivac. The drug demonstrated the capability to decrease days on a ventilator and in the ICU and hospital. It also reduced the incidence of secondary infection. Sepsivac uses the bacterium Mycobacterium w (formerly known as mycobacterium indicus pranii) which triggers a unique immune-system response. The United States and Australia are set to begin testing the BCG, or tuberculosis vaccine, which similarly employs a different strain of mycobacterium, on healthcare workers treating Covid-19 patients.
CSIR’s Plan for Mycobacterium w
Alongside testing Sepsivac, CSIR plans to evaluate Mycobacterium w for its potential to speed up the recovery of hospitalised Covid-19 infected patients and restrict the spread of the disease. The research will focus on providing preventive treatment (prophylaxis) to those in contact with Covid-19 infected individuals, such as family members and health care workers.
About the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Established by the Government of India in September 1942, CSIR is an autonomous body known for its advanced R&D knowledge base in diverse S&T areas. The prestigious institution recently topped the Nature Ranking Index-2020, which provides a near-real-time insight into high-quality research output and collaboration at institutional, national, and regional levels.
