A simple cholesterol-lowering drug may reduce the threat of COVID-19 to that of the common cold, suggests new research.

Researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center were focused on the changes in COVID-19 patients’ lungs and found that the virus prevents the regular burning of carbohydrates, reported The Telegraph.

What does this mean? Basically, this causes a huge fat buildup inside the lungs which helps the virus reproduce. According to the research, this could explain the risk profiles of COVID-19. Most people at risk are those with high blood sugar, high cholesterol and diabetes.

The aim of the study was to understand how the virus works, especially how it replicates. Once this is known, researchers could focus on ways to nip this process in the bud.

Now while a vaccine may take time to get just right and out in the world, an existing drug that blocks the virus’ ability to function can be even more effective.

In their studies, the cholesterol-lowering drug Fenofibrate (Tricor) showed great results. How it works is by allowing cells to burn more fat and therefore break the control the virus has on these cells which in turn, reduces its ability to reproduce.

According to their research, in just five days of treatment, the virus had vanished. There need to be more clinical studies and trials before this method is proven, but so far, this approach seems promising.

(With inputs from The Telegraph and Medical Xpress)