細菌学および寄生虫学ジャーナル

概要

Oxysterols: A New Hope for an Effective and Safe Therapy for COVID-19, Another Light at the End of the Tunnel

Farhad Parhami*, Feng Wang, Frank Stappenbeck

The COVID-19 pandemic and its lasting consequences have dealt a huge, irreversible blow to the vitality of the global economy and the livelihood of all populations affected by it. Millions of lives lost, businesses destroyed, hopes and dreams shattered and the pandemic still persists despite the remarkable impact of newly developed vaccines. Unfortunately, there are still many uncertainties that threaten our future:

• Harmful new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, emerging from a constantly mutating virus that may render the existing vaccines less effective or even ineffective.

• The colossal task of vaccinating the entire world population, combined with a likely need for repeat vaccination.

• The side effects of the available vaccines, especially in certain segments of the population, including young men and pregnant or to be pregnant women. Unfortunately, not much is currently known about potential long term side effects of the newly developed vaccines.