The Japanese Journal of Antibiotics
Online ISSN : 2186-5477
Print ISSN : 0368-2781
ISSN-L : 0368-2781
Volume 76, Issue 2
Displaying 1-2 of 2 articles from this issue
Review Article
  • Morimasa Yagisawa, Ph.D., Patrick J. Foster, M.D., Hideaki Hanaki, Ph. ...
    2023 Volume 76 Issue 2 Pages 13-55
    Published: June 25, 2023
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    The authors collected and analyzed information on the details of the outbreak and global spread (pandemic) of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19) and clinical studies of ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The time period covered was until the third wave of the epidemic stabilized in February of 2021, which was 15 months after the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Review articles were published, in Japanese and English, in this journal.

    This review describes the results of data collection and analysis of the global trends of COVID-19 from the fourth to the eighth wave in the ensuing two years and two months. The situations in the United States (most severely affected), Europe and Asia (where different trends were observed among countries), and India and Japan (where unique trends were observed), are also described. In particular, the emergence of variants, the most prominent feature of COVID-19—including subsequent transitions to various lineages, which strongly influence differences in the virulence and infectivity of mutant and subtype strains—is analyzed and described in detail.

    As the COVID-19 epidemic progressed, both the infectiousness of COVID-19 and the number of patients increased. However, the pathological course of clinical patients tended to become milder, and the disease prognosis less severe, as patient management improved with the introduction of various therapeutic agents, along with rapid detection and increased frequency of testing. Although vaccination of the population progressed rapidly, SARS-CoV-2 mutated just as rapidly, rendering the vaccines less effective in both the prevention and spread of infection. In addition, monoclonal antibody drugs targeting the spike proteins on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 became less effective due to ongoing mutations involving the target receptors. Novel therapeutic agents continue to be developed, and further improvements in COVID-19 therapy are expected.

    The COVID-19 pandemic is currently on a downward trend, and the United States and Japan lifted their emergency pandemic response alerts in May of 2023. The WHO expects the pandemic declaration to be terminated by the end of this year. It is hoped that no new pandemic waves will appear in the future.

    This review provides the necessary background information for the next review by the authors on the clinical trials of ivermectin, by analyzing the status of COVID-19 worldwide and the current status of therapeutic agents being used.

    Download PDF (3030K)
  • Morimasa Yagisawa, Ph.D., Patrick J. Foster, M.D, Hideaki Hanaki, Ph.D ...
    2023 Volume 76 Issue 2 Pages 56-108
    Published: June 25, 2023
    Released on J-STAGE: June 13, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    The authors collected and analyzed information on the details of the outbreak and global spread (pandemic) of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19) and clinical studies of ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The time period covered was until the third wave of the epidemic stabilized in February of 2021, which was 15 months after the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Review articles were published, in Japanese and English, in this journal.

    This review describes the results of data collection and analysis of the global trends of COVID-19 from the fourth to the eighth wave in the ensuing two years and two months. The situations in the United States (most severely affected), Europe and Asia (where different trends were observed among countries), and India and Japan (where unique trends were observed), are also described. In particular, the emergence of variants, the most prominent feature of COVID-19 — including subsequent transitions to various lineages, which strongly influence differences in the virulence and infectivity of mutant and subtype strains — is analyzed and described in detail.

    As the COVID-19 epidemic progressed, both the infectiousness of COVID-19 and the number of patients increased. However, the pathological course of clinical patients tended to become milder, and the disease prognosis less severe, as patient management improved with the introduction of various therapeutic agents, including rapid detection and increased frequency of testing. Although vaccination of the population progressed rapidly, SARS-CoV-2 mutated just as rapidly, rendering the vaccines less effective in both the prevention and spread of infection. In addition, monoclonal antibody drugs targeting the spike proteins on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 became less effective due to ongoing mutations involving the target receptors.

    Novel therapeutic agents continue to be developed, and further improvements in COVID-19 therapy are expected.

    The COVID-19 pandemic is currently on a downward trend, and the United States and Japan lifted their emergency pandemic response alerts in May of 2023. The WHO declared the termination of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern for COVID-19 on the 5th of May 2023. It is hoped that no new pandemic waves will appear in the future.

    This review provides the necessary background information for the next review by the authors on the clinical trials of ivermectin, by analyzing the status of COVID-19 worldwide and the current status of therapeutic agents being used.

    Download PDF (2044K)
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