Issues@Hand

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May 2021 – In Tel Aviv, Israeli doctors at Ichilov Medical Center announced the completion of Phase 1 trials on a new coronavirus treatment aimed at helping moderate to severe cases of COVID-19. Developed by Professor Dror Mevorach, the new drug, called EXO-CD24, was administered to 30 voluntary trial patients with a 96% success rate. All 30 patients recovered, and 29 of them were well enough for release from the hospital within three to five days.

Thus far, many deaths generally attributed to COVID-19 are believed to have resulted from a cytokine storm, which can be described as a lethal overreaction of the immune system. Accordingly, EXO-CD24 delivers a protein called CD24 to the lungs, thereby calming the immune system and curbing the cytokine storm.

Ronni Gamzu, the hospital’s chief executive, said, “I’m proud that here at Ichilov we are among the world leaders in finding the cure for the horrible epidemic.”

jewishnews.timesofisrael.com, 2/5/21