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The coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has been spreading rapidly worldwide, creating a pandemic. This article describes the evaluation of the antiviral activity of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a molecule found in Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) leaves, against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. A 35 µM concentration of NDGA was not toxic to Vero cells and exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on the SARS-CoV-2 cytopathic effect, viral plaque formation, RNA replication, and expression of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. The 50% effective concentration for NDGA was as low as 16.97 µM. Our results show that NDGA could be a promising therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IThe paper focus, first, exposes the general framework of public intervention in the real estate market, in which the impact on property rights is inherent. After that, secondly, are described some of the challenges that the Pandemic has posed in that industry and, finally, are critically examined some regulatory initiatives adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of plitidepsin antiviral treatment in immunocompromised COVID-19 patients with underlying haematological malignancies or solid tumours, particularly those who have undergone anti-CD20 therapies. We conducted a retrospective observational study, involving 54 adults treated with plitidepsin on compassionate use as an antiviral drug. Our analysis compared outcomes between patients with solid tumours and those with haematological malignancies, and a cohort of cases treated or not with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Patients with a history of anti-CD20 therapies showed a prolonged time-to-negative RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-treated patients (33 d (28;75) vs 15 (11;25); p =.002). Similar results were observed in patients with solid tumours in comparison to those with haematological malignancies (13 (10;16) vs 26 (17;50); p <.001). No serious adverse events were documented. Patients with haematological malignancies appear to be at a heightened risk for delayed SARS-CoV-2 clearance and subsequent clinical complications. These findings support plitidepsin as a well-tolerated treatment in this high-risk group. A phase II clinical trial (NCT05705167) is ongoing to evaluate plitidepsin as an antiviral drug in this population. Haematological patients face an increased risk for severe COVID-19. Anti-CD20 therapies could increase fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Persistent viral replication is increased in immunocompromised patients. Plitidepsin does not lead to new serious adverse events in immunocompromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. • Host-targeting antivirals offer a promising therapy in SARS-CoV-2 infection. • The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants raises the need to develop new antivirals. • Plitidepsin may contribute to SARS-CoV-2 clearance in immunocompromised patients. To evaluate the compassionate use of plitidepsin as an antiviral treatment in hospitalized immunocompromised adult patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Retrospective observational study of data —collected from January 01, 2021 to April 30, 2022— from 35 immunocompromised adult patients with COVID-19 non-eligible for other available antiviral treatments. Main outcome measures were time to respiratory recovery (SpFi ≥ 315); COVID-19-related 30-day-cumulative mortality after first plitidepsin infusion; and time to undetectable levels of viral RNA. Thirty-three patients receiving a full course of plitidepsin (2.5 mg [n = 29] or 1.5 mg [n = 4]) were included. Most (69.7%) had a malignant hematologic disease and 27.3% had solid tumors. A total of 111 infusions were administered with lack of relevant safety events. Median time from plitidepsin initiation to SpFi ≥315 was 8 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 7-19). Median time to first negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 (cycle threshold >36) was 17 days (95% CI 13-25). Mortality rate was 16.3% (95% CI 3-37.3). These data support plitidepsin as a well-tolerated treatment that might have potential clinical and antiviral efficacy in COVID-19 immunocompromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of interleukin (IL-6) inhibitors has become one of the most complicated clinical issues in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recently, randomized open-label platform trials have found that IL-6 inhibitors have a beneficial effect on mortality in severe COVID-19. However, several questions arise around their mechanism of action in this disease, as well as how, when, and at which dose they should be used. IL-6 has both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, which may modulate the course of COVID-19, whose immunopathogenesis is driven by the innate immune system, autoantibodies, and interferon. Given that patients with delayed seroconversion against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein would be at the highest risk of complications beyond the second week of disease, we propose that considering patient serostatus at admission could optimize the use of IL-6 inhibitors in COVID-19. We predict that the net treatment benefits could be higher in the subgroup of patients with delayed seroconversion as compared to those who seroconvert more rapidly after SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]