A recent study published in the journal eClinical Medicine showed that participants in phase II clinical trials for the drug AXA1125, developed by US pharmaceutical company Axcella Therapeutics, reported feeling less fatigued than those given a placebo. The most common symptom experienced by long-term COVID sufferers is severe fatigue. There are currently no therapy alternatives for long-term COVID problems, which include anxiety and shortness of breath, among other things.

AXA1125 was tested for long-term COVID fatigue as previous data from Axcella showed effects on cellular energetics and inflammation. Out of 41 patients enrolled in phase II, 21 were given the investigational treatment, which is an orange-flavored powder dissolved in water, twice a day for four weeks, while the rest of the 20 patients were given a placebo. The researchers only included patients who had symptoms of fatigue for about 18 months before entering the study.

Several studies on long-term COVID have shown that the virus targets the mitochondria, which is an important cellular component required for regular energy generation and inflammation regulation. The findings of the study showed that AXA1125 enhanced energy production and reduced inflammation in the body.

As a result, researchers used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to scan the calf muscles of the patient as they bent and straightened their leg against the slight resistance of an exercise band to track mitochondrial health in their muscles before and after they took the medicine.

The scans showed there was no significant difference between the patients who took the treatment versus the placebo. However, the patient in the treatment arm did report significantly improved fatigue levels. 

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1070648 )