Camostat Mesylate, a drug used for treating chronic pancreatitis, could be repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients.

Camostat mesylate has been approved for repurposing in treating patients infected with the SARS-Cov-2 virus.

Camostat mesylate has been approved for repurposing in treating patients infected with the SARS-Cov-2 virus.A team of German virology, genomics and pharmaceutical scientists had identified that a Japanese drug called Camostat Mesylate (Fopian) could be used to treat the patients affected by COVID-19. Since it has been approved by the Japanese FDA for the treatment of some non-infectious conditions it could be easily repurposed since formulating new drugs can take a longer time.

Even though there is no approved therapy for COVID-19, studies have demonstrated that Camostat Mesylate can prevent the entry of the SARS-Cov-2's cellular entry into a human host, thus preventing the virus from multiplying itself in the human system.

The drug camostat mesylate is used in countries like Japan and South Korea in the treatment of Chronic pancreatitis. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the University of Tokyo among others has announced plans to repurpose this drug into clinical trials to treat patients suffering from the SARS-Cov-2 infection.

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