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5-Aminolevulinic acid antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant

Nagasaki University and Neopharma Japan (NPJ) have conducted laboratory infection experiments using the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and have reported the antiviral effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) against this variant in vitro as a potential therapeutic and prophylaxis for COVID-19.This research was accepted in the international journal “Tropical Medicine and Health” on April 8, 2022.

■Research Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic continues to pose a threat to global health. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) has spread rapidly worldwide and became dominant in many countries. A natural 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) with sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) has demonstrated antiviral activity in Wuhan, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 infections in vitro. In this study, we report antiviral activity of 5-ALA, 5-ALA with SFC led to IC50 of 329 and 765/191, respectively after infection with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Our finding suggests that 5-ALA could be used as antiviral drug candidate to treat Omicron variant infected patients.

For the details of this research, please refer to the journal below.

Title: 5-aminolevulinic acid antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in vitro
URL:https://tropmedhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41182-022-00422-7

■Author information:
Mya Myat Ngwe Tun, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University.
Takaya Sakura, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University.
Yasuteru Sakurai, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) and National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University.
Yohei Kurosaki, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University.
Daniel Ken Inaoka, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) and School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University.
Norifumi Shioda, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG) and Graduate of School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University.
Chris Smith, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University.
Jiro Yasuda, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) and National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University.
Kouichi Morita, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University.
Kiyoshi Kita, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University and Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) .

This release is also available in Japanese.