NOTICIA New research protocol for effective antiviral against COVID-19

The protocol will be based on Natural Killer Cells (NK cells) and consists in the development of an effective cell therapy against COVID-19.

TecSalud, through its research area, and the korean company Novocell Bio, have signed a collaboration agreement for the transfer of technology and the start of the NK immune cell culture protocol.

Both teams successfully completed the first phase, which was the NK cell culture experiment, which will allow them to start the clinical trial at the TecSalud facilities, once authorized by Cofepris.

"These NK cells have two functions, to be antiviral and anticancer. In this case, we are doing it so that the treatment can be used to cure the coronavirus, and unlike other COVID treatments, it can also be used to cure cancer", said Mrs. Guy Moon, Research Director at Novocell Bio.

Likewise, Mrs. Moon pointed out: “I believe that our NK cell therapy will be able to treat all variants of COVID 19 patients”.

Gerardo García, Director of Translational Research at TecSalud, pointed out that through its academic medical center, TecSalud allows collaborations with leading companies in culture and transplant technology such as Novocell Bio.

"This collaboration will allow us to implement clinical questions and generate experiments that support the safety and efficacy of an intervention. This is very important and few places in the world have managed to do it", Garcia said.

The function of natural killer cells in the body

Eduardo Vázquez, coordinator of the Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Therapies Unit at TecSalud, mentioned that the immune system has two branches: innate immunity and adaptive immunity.

“The adaptive immunity, which is the generation of memory cells from B lymphocytes that produce antibodies, is related to vaccination, and those are the ones that help fight viral or other infections, since they generate memory and long-term response.

“In innate immunity, we have NK or Natural Killer cells, which are responsible for defending the body by destroying infected cells and cancer cells, and also regulate immune responses”, he explained.

NK cells are among the first to act in the face of an infection, hence the importance of this protocol, which focuses on the treatment of these cells.

Great expectations from this therapeutic protocol

Servando Cardona, national director of Clinical Research at TecSalud, pointed out that the process begins with a blood sample from a volunteer and that the final result, leads to an autologous transplant or "auto transplant" of the person's NK cells, already treated, expanded and activated.

“This transplant is less risky than an allogeneic transplant (from another patient). It is expected that the cells will have a different reaction and a more effective potential, either antiviral or antitumor, than the initial intake", Cardona explained.

Furthermore, Servando mentioned the relevance of this area of research, because it is something different from allopathic medicine: "Using the reserves that the human being has inside his body, modifying it and being able to recover the state of health that he had at the beginning, is something new and of great impact".

Infrastructure with the highest quality and security

Francisco Villegas, Operational Director of Clinical Research, mentioned that the protocol will be carried out in high quality infrastructure with good manufacturing practices: “It is an area with an ISO-5 environmental quality, which favors a high-end product.

"We have high-tech pharmaceutical equipment, which ensures the best quality and safety standards in cell preparation and production. We have an area already defined specifically for Novocell with teams dedicated to this protocol”, Villegas explained.

Also, Mrs. Guy Moon said "TecSalud has first class infrastructure and facilities, where we can achieve good results together, so that this cell treatment may be beneficial for the world today".

Finally, Mr. Moon Shin, Vice President of Novocell Bio, concluded: "We want to share our cell augmentation technique with TecSalud, and once we have authorization from Cofepris, we will demonstrate the benefits of this treatment to the public".

Participation eligibility and criteria:

• People from 18 to 60 years of age of both genders
• No neoplasms
• No autoimmune diseases
• Not pregnant
• Moderate COVID-19 symptoms
• Vaccinated or not vaccinated
• Informed consent

For more information call or contact us at:
Research office TecSalud: 81.8888.0000 ext. 3771 to 3773
WhatsApp: 81.2029.1732
Email: investclinica@servicios.tecsalud.mx