Common drugs may help dangerous viruses spread through the body

A surprising discovery reveals that widely used anti-inflammatory drugs may unintentionally help dangerous viruses spread through the body. Scientists found that JAK inhibitors, prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, can weaken a crucial immune defense against influenza, COVID-19, and other infections. By suppressing genes that normally fight viruses, these medications may leave patients more vulnerable to infection. Medications are designed to treat diseases and relieve symptoms, but some can also produce unintended effects that put patients at risk. While side effects are common with many treatments, researchers have identified a particularly concerning possibility involving drugs used to control inflammation.

Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have discovered that a widely used class of anti-inflammatory medications may make it easier for certain viruses to infect cells and spread throughout the body. "We have found a surprising and potentially serious side effect of a class of anti-inflammatory drugs. They can help viruses spread more easily in the body," says Denis Kainov, a professor at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The medications at the center of the findings belong to a class called Janus kinase inhibitors, or