New Delhi:A doctor from Tamil Nadu who suggested beta-adrenergic blockers in COVID-19 treatment is waiting for the Indian Council of Medical Research's response to proceed with his proposal.
Vasanthakumar, who has completed MBBS, MPhil in Neuroscience and Mental Health and MD from Christian Medical College, Vellore, had penned many medical research articles.
He was also a senior research fellow at a biological psychiatry lab. Vasanthakumar is a visiting researcher at De. Sen Cheng's Lab at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
He recently sent his hypothesis to ICMR stating that patients with COVID-19 can be treated with beta-adrenergic blockers.
"The clinical trials can be implemented as the treatment would prevent the entry of COVID-19 cells further into the body of infected person. Also, it can be treated for hypertension patients. Patients with moderate symptoms can take a low dosage of these beta-adrenergic blockers," Vasanthakumar said in his thesis sent to ICMR.
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As ICMR had not responded to Vasanthakumar, he moved the Madras High Court seeking direction to ICMR to conduct clinical trials of the beta adrenergic blockers in COVID-19 treatment.
He argued that the treatment will be very cost-effective and will benefit the public at large.
"The drug has been used by doctors and it is giving good results to patients," he noted.
Dr Ilayaraja, brother of Vasanthakumar, said the ICMR is yet to respond to the thesis.
"My brother had sent his suggestion earlier when the pandemic occurred. As the ICMR ignored him, we stepped to legal protest. Now, the High Court has asked ICMR to take a decision. But ICMR has not taken a decision so far," Ilayaraja told ETV Bharat.
When ETV Bharat contacted a senior officer with ICMR, he said that the matter is yet to be considered. He denied to speak any further on the subject.
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