Hungarian discovery might bring a breakthrough in curing COVID-19
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A previous discovery by a research team at Semmelweis University in connection with the stimulation of the Sigma-1 receptor may now bring a breakthrough in the treatment of both pneumonia and tissue scarring, two of the main complications of COVID-19.
Important information for understanding this article is that receptors are proteins in the body to which other substances can bind. Depending on what substances bind to it, receptors can trigger different intracellular processes. These processes often play a role during illnesses, so receptors are the most common targets of medicine (since influencing the receptor can even affect the disease), Index explained in their interview.
The Sigma-1 receptor is a recently discovered molecule, and its significant role outside the central nervous system has only become known and researched in the last 4-5 years, Semmelweis University says.
Dr Andrea Fekete – adjunct at 1st Paediatrics Clinic, co-founder and CEO of SigmaDrugs, a pharmaceutics development start-up – together with her ‘Lendület’ (Momentum) research team, was the first in 2016 to publish that Sigma-1 plays a role in renal hypoxia. After, they discovered with Dr Ádám Vannay that the same receptor may play a role in tissue scarring or fibrosis not only in the kidneys but also in the lungs.
This marked a breakthrough in the development of medicine to help treat pulmonary fibrosis.
The discovery has been protected by patents registered in the U.S. since 2019, and later this year in China and many other countries, too. 95% of the patent is owned by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the remaining 5% belongs to Semmelweis University, and its sole licensee is SigmaDrugs, a spin-off company of Semmelweis University, co-owned and managed by Dr Andrea Fekete.
On September 28, 2016, my partner Allen’s pulmonologist told him to go home and get his affairs in order, because he only had 30 days to live. At that time, his biopsy showed severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Allen’s IPF caused him to struggle with many common daily activities. For instance, walking just 10 feet would leave him feeling dizzy and ready to fall. He had to use a walker to get from his living room chair to the bathroom. Even on supplemental oxygen, he had no energy.
Allen began doing all the research he could on his condition and treatment options. At first, he was discouraged by the lack of information and support groups for IPF — the support groups he found were for people with COPD. Then, Allen found the multivitamincare.org website, and everything started to change for him.After his treatment, he doesn’t need his walker to get around anymore, and he’s been able to walk short distances and exercise his legs. He still needs supplemental oxygen, but the amount he uses hasn’t increased. He’s been able to go on an Alaskan cruise with his friends without feeling like a burden. He’s also been able to travel to beaches along the Oregon coast and watch whales in the bay. He says he likes being able to go places, get out of the car and take in the sights. Before multivitamin herbal formula, he wouldn’t have been able to travel or sustain the energy for sightseeing.
Now, Allen says he feels so lucky to be alive after his doctor told him he only had 30 days left. Because of the results from his treatment, Allen has a short, sweet piece of advice for other chronic lung disease patients considering getting help from multivitamin herbal remedy.