Medical Advisor Dr. Sara Biere-Rafi explains
BC 007
C-support receives many questions about the so-called 'James Bond drug' against Long COVID. BC OO7 is a drug of German origin. It was developed by Berlin Cures, a group of German researchers, as a drug against a form of heart failure caused by autoantibodies. These are antibodies that are directed against parts of the body itself. The drug is said to be effective in neutralizing these autoantibodies, but has not yet been approved for this application.
Recently, the drug was administered by an ophthalmologist at a university clinic in Erlangen to a patient with glaucoma and Long COVID symptoms who also appeared to have similar autoantibodies against the blood vessels. The treatment consisted of a one-time administration of the drug via an infusion for 75 minutes. The drug proved effective in restoring blood circulation in the smallest blood vessels of the eye, but also in reducing Long COVID symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue. In the meantime, about four Long COVID patients are said to have been successfully treated.
Need more research
Although the drug appears to be effective in this small group of patients, it is still far too early to draw conclusions about its applicability, effectiveness and safety for the large group of Long COVID patients in general. The researchers themselves also believe that further clinical research is now needed on a larger scale to further develop and investigate the possible use of the drug. To this end, they are currently looking for funding.
Unfortunately, BC 007 does not yet have a 'license to cure'. If new information or insights about this drug appear, C-support will mention this on the website.
HELP Apheresis in Germany
Despite various studies, the cause of the Long COVID complaints has not yet been fully clarified. Among other things, an overactive immune system, a disturbed internal thermostat, formation of antibodies against the body's own tissue and the formation of blood clots are all mentioned as potential mechanisms. This may also differ per patient.
In Germany, Dr. Beate Roxane Jaeger treats patients using the apheresis technique. Apheresis is a process in which one or more blood components are removed from the blood, while the rest of the components are returned to the patient. Dr. Jaeger has been using the apheresis technique for years to treat, among other things, high cholesterol in people with arteriosclerosis in the blood vessels of the heart, who have an increased risk of a heart attack.
Promising results
Now this technique is also being used for the treatment of Long COVID complaints. In addition to cholesterol particles, clotting proteins and cells involved in the immune system are also removed from Long COVID patients with the aim of improving blood flow and oxygen supply to the organs. The treatment is very expensive, around 1500 euros per treatment, and would have to be repeated several times. In between treatments, patients are treated with blood thinners. The results are said to be promising with patients who recovered considerably after completing the treatments.
However, the results of her research have not yet been published in medical journals. Now we are waiting for that to gain more insight into the effectiveness and safety of this method, which is quite drastic. C-support will keep you informed.
