Off-patent drug ‘an important weapon’ against COVID-19

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An off-patent drug that is used to treat liver disease could be an “important weapon” against COVID-19, according to a new study published last night.

The research, published in Nature, shows ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) can “lock” ACE2, the doorway through which SARS-CoV-2 enters, and because it targets the host cells and not the virus, it should protect against future new variants.