COVID-19 Beware: Cheap and Widely Accessible Drug Could Fight Virus

Heparin strongly binds to the coronavirus's spike proteins because its structure is very similar to Heparan Sulphate, a molecule at the surface of the human cell that the virus binds its spike proteins to when entering a cell. (By creativeneko/Shutterstock

Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) have discovered that the cheap and widely used drug, heparin, when inhaled can be a uniquely effective prevention and treatment method for COVID-19.

Heparin is currently used to prevent blood from clotting and it is typically administered through an injection.