The VSMU student Karolina Grigorieva, under the supervision of the Head of the VSMU research laboratory, MD, professor Sergei Stefanovich Osochuk, developed an experimental drug that prevents the development of acute adrenal insufficiency in sepsis.
The project of Karolina Grigorieva and her scientific supervisor "Development of a method for experimentally preventing the development of Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (acute adrenal insufficiency in generalized inflammation)" won the 15th Republican Innovative Projects Competition in the nomination "Best Youth Innovative Project".
— Since sepsis causes cholesterol levels to drop in many patients, this is an unfavorable prognostic criterion. Every minute 14 people die from sepsis in the world (annual mortality is 11 million). Therefore, we took a closer look at this pathology and realized that what was missing was a pathogenetically substantiated treatment method that involves correcting cholesterol levels. The drug developed in laboratory conditions is capable of delivering cholesterol to the adrenal glands via liposomes. At the moment, pilot studies have been conducted that have shown that when this drug is administered intraperitoneally or intravenously, mortality is reduced by 80% and 87%, respectively. We have confirmed the idea that cholesterol replacement therapy works, — said Karolina Grigorieva.
At the moment, the technology for industrial production of the drug is being developed for its preclinical and clinical trials.