Latest news with #DenisKainov
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
‘Hidden risk' of widely-used prescription drugs — you're more likely to get the flu and Covid while on them
Since we take prescription drugs to feel better, it's alarming to think that some common ones can actually make you more sick. But that's precisely what a shocking new study out of Norway has revealed. 'We have found a surprising and potentially serious side effect of a class of anti-inflammatory drugs. They can help viruses spread more easily in the body,' Denis Kainov, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), said in a press release. Advertisement A new study has found some common drugs can actually make you more sick. Getty Images Janus kinase inhibitors — also known as JAKs — are commonly prescribed for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. You might know them by their brand names, such as Xeljanz, Olumiant and Rinvoq. But while they may ease inflammatory conditions, it seems they can also inflame your chances of catching a nasty bug. Advertisement 'Among the viruses that more easily affect the body with the help of these drugs are Rift Valley fever virus, influenza A, adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,' Kainov said. Kainov and his team found that these drugs can suppress interferon-stimulated genes, which play a crucial role in the body's response to viral infections, thereby facilitating the spread of viruses. They therefore urge medical professionals to exercise caution when prescribing these drugs to patients who might be at risk. 'Among the viruses that more easily affect the body with the help of these drugs are Rift Valley fever virus, influenza A, adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,' Kainov said. Getty Images Advertisement 'We recommend further studies to better understand how the drugs can be used optimally, especially during virus outbreaks or pandemics,' Aleksandr Ianevski, an NTNU researcher, said. JAKs aren't the only class of medication to make headlines recently for some unpleasant side effects. Other common drugs, such as statins — which are meant to lower cholesterol — and certain medications for high blood pressure have also been implicated in exposing patients to a higher risk of infection. Advertisement In a somewhat more bizarre twist, reports reviewed by the BBC suggest some common drugs that are meant to treat Parkinson's and other movement disorders have been pushing people into sexually deviant behavior. And the FDA recently issued a warning about generic versions of a widely-used hair loss drug — finasteride — that is frequently distributed by popular telehealth brands like Hims and Keeps, after dozens of users reported sexual dysfunction, brain fog and suicidal thoughts.
India Today
20-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Scientists find common arthritis drugs could weaken immunity against Covid, flu
Drugs are meant to make us feel better, either by treating disease or easing symptoms. But sometimes, certain medicines could have unexpected side effects that could make things worse, especially during a virus outbreak.A team of scientists in Norway has now found that a commonly used group of anti-inflammatory drugs called Janus kinase inhibitors, or JAK inhibitors could actually make it easier for viruses like influenza and Covid-19 to spread inside the findings are published in NAR Molecular drugs are often used to treat chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune according to researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), they may also reduce the body's natural defences against viruses."We have found a surprising and potentially serious side effect of these drugs. They can help viruses spread more easily in the body,' said Professor Denis Kainov from NTNU's Department of Clinical and Molecular simple terms, the drugs seem to weaken an important signalling process in the immune system, one that helps protect healthy cells from being this pathway is blocked, the body's ability to detect and fight viruses is research team tested the effects of JAK inhibitors on human cells taken from the lungs, eyes, and also studied mini-organs grown in the lab and used advanced gene analysis found that a drug like baricitinib, commonly used for arthritis, slows down the activity of certain genes that kick into action when a virus genes act like a security system in the body. When it's down, viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (which causes Covid) adenovirus, and influenza A can spread Ravlo, the study's lead author, said the findings show that while JAK inhibitors are useful in managing inflammation, they could carry hidden risks during viral infections, especially for people with a weak immune system.'Doctors should be careful when prescribing these drugs, particularly during times when viruses like Covid-19 or flu are circulating widely,' Ravlo the researchers also said that in controlled environments, such as during vaccine development or drug screening, this side effect might actually be instance, by making it easier to test how well a new antiviral treatment scientists are now calling for more research into how these drugs work in real-world conditions.
