Heparin, a widely available drug traditionally used to treat blood clots, lowers risk of death and ventilation in patients with COVID-19. The corresponding study was published in eClinical Medicine.
Previous research has shown that inhaled heparin has antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses alongside anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant effects. A study also found that the drug improves measures of oxygenation in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Whether or not these improvements reduce the need for intubation or reduce mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 remains unknown.
"Inhaled heparin is anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant. There's no other drug that has that unique combination. We know it's only a matter of time until the next pandemic, and there are still COVID-19 patients who get very sick. This is a great weapon to have up our sleeve,” said co-lead author of the study, Professor Clive Page, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at King's College London, in a press release.
In the current study, researchers analyzed data from 478 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but not intubated between 2020 and 2022. Patients came from six countries, including the US, Brazil, and Indonesia, and were randomly assigned to inhaled heparin alongside standard of care or standard of care alone.
Ultimately, the researchers found that inhaled heparin significantly reduced mortality rates in patients hospitalized, but not intubated, due to COVID-19, and that it prevented intubation. Inhaled heparin was also found to be safe and free from pulmonary or systemic bleeding complications.
"It doesn't matter what kind of respiratory infection the patient is dealing with, the drug -- when inhaled -- will stop it from infecting the patient and from damaging the lungs,” said lead author of the study, Professor Frank van Haren, Director of the Intensive Care Unit at the St George Hospital in Sydney, Australia, in a press release.
“We're aiming to conduct another trial in Europe to confirm its effectiveness in fighting other common respiratory infections such as influenza and RSV. And because it's inexpensive, it's much more accessible for those from low-income countries,” he added.
Sources: Science Daily, eClinical Medicine