A BREAKTHROUGH treatment that could be the first to combat the mosquito-borne disease Ross River virus is set to be tested on people in Queensland and Victoria.
A Melbourne biotech company hopes to start the second phase of a clinical trial to test if an existing drug can be used to treat the virus.
The current Ross River outbreak along Australia's east coast has left many victims with severe joint pain due to the arthritis associated with the virus.
Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals is preparing to launch the second phase of the trial of the drug Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (PPS) for the treatment of Ross River virus which causes fever, joint and muscle aches and fatigue.
There are normally about 5000 cases reported nationally every year, but in Victoria's north alone more than 800 cases have been detected this year.
There is no treatment for the virus, but patients are given anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids to provide pain relief.
The drug PPS has anti-coagulative and anti-inflammatory effects, and has been used to treat bladder pain and prevent deep vein thrombosis for more than 60 years.
The potential for PPS to be used as an effective treatment for Ross River virus was discovered by Griffith University scientist Lara Herrero, who also suffered from the disease.
"For decades patients have suffered from the debilitating arthritic pain caused by RRV infection, only to be told by their doctor there is nothing that can be done," Dr Herrero said.
"We are hoping that Pentosan Polysulphate may change that and be the first licensed alphaviral-specific treatment."
Dr Herrero's pre-clinical research showed that PPS can halt the progression of Ross River virus-induced disease, reducing the duration and severity of clinical signs and symptoms.
Paradign Biopharma chief executive Paul Rennie said he hoped that by repurposing and testing an existing drug, rather than developing a new drug, an effective treatment for Ross River virus could even be available as early as next summer.
Researchers have also been testing the drug's effectiveness in treating the related Chikungunya virus.
The trials are set to start in June, and will involve a small number of patients in Queensland and Victoria.
