Probenecid (pictured), a drug used to treat gout, showed promise fighting against viruses like COVID-19 in a recent study
A drug used to treat gout could also help combat COVID-19, a new study finds.
Probenecid is medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating the condition that causes tenderness and pain at the joints.
Research published by a team from the University of Georgia finds the drug may also be able to inhibit the replication of virus cells like SARS-CoV-2 - which causes Covid - and prevent infection.
There are currently limited treatments available for the virus, and many non-virus treating drugs have been studied as potential treatments.
The drug works by preventing virus cells from taking over a person's cells and using them to replicate.
This prevents the virus from being able to spread throughout the body and therefore limits the odds of a person falling severely ill.
There are not many drugs on the market with the ability to do this, with the ones that are currently used for Covid more effective after infection.
Researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature, believe probenecid can combat other viruses, such the common flu, as well.
'There's really nothing out there to safely fight these viruses,' said lead author Dr Ralph Tripp, a professor in the department of infectious diseases at the University of Georgia, in a statement.
'This antiviral works for all RNA respiratory viruses we tested, including SARS-CoV-2. RSV, coronavirus and flu all
