A 'miraculous molecule' to prevent COVID-19? Nobel Prize Louis Ignarro on Nitric Oxide

By Newsroom Last updated Aug 4, 2020

According to the Nobel Prize in Medicine, Dr Louis Ignarro, Nitric Oxide could be the ‘miraculous molecule’ that could make the difference in the war against COVID-19.

Dr Louis Ignarro, Nobel Prize in Medicine speak about the Nitric Oxide, which could represent the turning point in treating and preventing COVID-19. Dr Louis Ignarro won a Nobel Prize in 1998 for his breakthrough discovery of the molecule and its positive health impacts.

A ‘miraculous molecule’? Which could be the effects on COVID-19 patients?

Studies during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2004 demonstrated that nitric oxide was effective in killing that virus, a type of coronavirus. Nitric oxide is already used to help newborn babies and adults with acute respiratory illnesses. According to Dr Ignarro, it could be used to treat, or even prevent COVID-19 infections.

The potential treatment with nitrous oxide is being tested at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr Louis Ignarro seems to be sure that the inhaled nitric oxide will be quite effective in relieving all of that inflammation and the destruction in the lungs which is how the SARS-CoV-2 virus kills humans.

Nitric oxide is a colorless gas that is naturally created in the body dilates blood vessels to speed up blood and oxygen flow. Inhaled nitric oxide is widely known for saving many oxygen-starved newborn babies with heart defects. Ignarro, like many others, said the biggest issues in severe COVID-19 patients, which can ultimately lead to death, are inflammation and blood clotting.

It seems that nitric oxide prevents the blood from clotting. If you can get that nitric oxide in the lungs, you can prevent the blood from clotting and dilate the arteries. He allegedly added that the molecule can also fight some bacteria, parasites and viruses. It is safe and is already used as a rescue therapy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The Massachusetts General Hospital as the main vessel for the research on nitric oxide against COVID-19

The hospital is the first center in the nation to rigorously test inhaled nitric oxide for novel coronavirus. The Massachusetts General Hospital is organizing a study aimed at severe COVID-19 patients that have been intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). They will receive inhaled nitric oxide to determine if it improves outcomes.

Patients in that group will get inhaled nitric oxide for 30 minutes two times a day for two weeks. The hope is that the treatment prevents the disease from getting worse and leading to intubation.

Another trial will be put in action and it will be aimed at healthcare workers with exposure to COVID-19 patients. They will administer healthcare workers inhaled nitric oxide before and after their shifts to see if the treatment could protect them against the virus.

A ‘ninja gas’, that’s how Dr John Walker, an advanced airway orthodontist and a clinical instructor of orthodontics at Boston University calls nitric oxide. He allegedly believes the molecule can help to beat back the pandemic.