While we are all rejoicing at the efficacy of Covid vaccines, an interesting story of a slightly different breakthrough has been reported in The Telegraph and other newspapers this morning.
It seems that a substance (EXO-CD24) has been trialling there which is a major treatment for Covid. It's been a very small clinical trial so far but has apparently had amazing results after it was given to 30 patients, 29 of whom have made quite dramatic recoveries and the 30th recovered but less quickly.
The treatment contains a protein CD24 which is delivered directly to the lungs in a gas, and it helps to rebalance the immune system, so it does not overreact to the virus!
It seems that this substance was originally developed to treat ovarian cancer.
It's such early days, but if further trials show this to be a safe and effective method of treatment, the news is huge and a major breakthrough.
Because no matter how successful vaccination is, it will not eradicate covid19 completely, and effective treatments that can improve outcomes and save lives are equally important.