Affiliation:
1. Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine; Novosibirsk State University
2. Novosibirsk State University
3. Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine
4. St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University
Abstract
Background. Studying the characteristics of the course of coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains relevant due to the high mutagenicity of the virus and the prevalence of the disease in the world. The search for new drugs to eliminate clinical manifestations of COVID-19, as well as against its agent, is essential. During the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, dexamethasone was recognized as the only effective anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of patients with severe form of the disease, but its use leads to a large number of side effects.The aim. To study the therapeutic effect of the drug Molixan in the treatment of coronavirus infection in model animals – Syrian hamsters.Methods. To assess the effectiveness of the drug Molixan, we carried out a visual assessment of the condition of the lungs using light microscopy and the morphometry of the lung tissue of experimentally infected Syrian hamsters on the day 6 after infection under different Molixan treatment regimens and during dexamethasone therapy. The test drug was administered using three different doses (22.2 mg/kg, 44.4 mg/kg and 88.8 mg/kg, which are equivalent to doses of 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg of human body weight) once daily or dividing the dose into two within 12 h interval in case of multiple (5 days) intramuscular administration. Dexamethasone (comparison drug) was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg once daily for 5 days.Results. The studies showed statistically significant effectiveness of using Molixan at a dose of 44.4 mg/kg, divided into two doses, during 5 days. When compared with untreated hamsters, this treatment regimen reduces the degree of generalization and severity of the inflammatory process in the lungs; and the pathomorphological picture is similar to that observed during treatment with Dexamethasone.Conclusion. The studied drug Molixan is effective as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.