Renessans Helps in Early Clearance of SARS-CoV-2: In-Vivo Activity of the Iodine Complex in Rhesus macaque

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Coronavirus has caused a wide range of mortality all over the world. The disease is being controlled by vaccines and antiviral agents. Nevertheless, the development of emerging variants keeps on spreading the disease. For the control of the disease, researchers are always finding new alternatives for the treatment of COVID-19. We explored the potential of repurposing iodine complexes for the treatment of COVID-19. In the first stage, we tested the iodine complexes for antiviral activity in the lab and found the atoxic anti-coronavirus doses to be effective. In the current study, we tested the complexes in animal trials on monkeys. The iodine complexes helped to clear coronavirus from monkeys earlier than the control group. This study provides a cheap alternative to be tested for human trials for COVID-19 that can be a good additive option for treatment. ABSTRACT: Iodine complexes have known antimicrobial properties along with reported in-vitro antiviral activity for several viruses. Renessans is one such product with iodine complexes and ascorbic acid. The present study was designed to determine its efficacy for SARS-CoV-2 in Rhesus macaque. Rhesus macaque were assigned to: A) prophylactic group (n = 3), (B) treatment group (n = 3), (C) infection control group (n = 4), and (D) negative control group (n = 4). Groups A, B, and C were challenged with 2 × 10(6) TCID of SARS-CoV-2. The prophylactic group (A) was administered Renessans from 5 days before infection till 8 days postinfection (DPI). The treatment group (B) was administered Renessans from 3 till 8 DPI. Group C was administered water-insoluble fractions only. Nasal swabs from all monkeys of groups A, B, and C remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 till 2 and 7 DPI, while the swabs became negative for groups A and B at 14 DPI. Likewise, fecal matter of monkeys in group A returned negative results during the experiment, while that of group B had significantly decreased viral load (10(1.5) genome copies/mL) compared to group C (10(3) genome copies/mL). Hence, it is concluded that Renessans has in-vivo SARS-CoV-2 activity and may result in early clearance of SARS-CoV-2.