Invention:
University of Arizona inventors have discovered inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. These inhibitors have potential for use as therapeutics against COVID-19 as well as other SARS and MERS strains.
Background:
Viral outbreaks are not new; we have faced SARS, MERS, Nipah, Zika, and several other viral outbreaks in recent history. In late 2019, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19), started to circulate through humans. The World Health Organization declared this outbreak a pandemic due to its high transmission rates.
COVID-19 is a beta coronavirus, similar to the human coronaviruses SARS and MERS. With this novel outbreak, there are now seven different strains of human coronaviruses. Coronaviruses are proving, over time, to be a severe threat to humans. Novel treatments that work against conserved areas will be beneficial in the short and long-term as we try to overcome the current and future pandemics.
Applications:
- Coronaviruses
- Prevent viral replication
Advantages:
- Known safety profile
- Works against main protease
- Potential treatment against all human coronavirus strains
Published Paper: Boceprevir, GC-376, and calpain inhibitors II, XII inhibit SARS-CoV-2 viral replication by targeting the viral main protease - can be accessed here.
COVID, COVID-19, COVID19, Coronavirus
