The National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have divulged 3C-like protease (3CLpro) (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (COVID-19).
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has obtained clearance from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct clinical trials in China with SYH-2055, an oral small-molecule 3C-like protease (3CLpro) inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2.
New research has identified a novel receptor that interacts with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by which the SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells, and shown it can be inhibited with marketed drugs, reducing expression of ACE2 and blocking viral entry.
Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. has reported results from a study of ARDS-003 (onternabez) combined with favipiravir against acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and COVID-19 through PREPAiRE, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform which integrates target identification, validation, lead discovery optimization, drug synthesis and preclinical testing.
Pfizer Inc. and Clear Creek Bio Inc. have entered into a research collaboration and exclusive license agreement to advance the discovery and development of potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) for the oral treatment of COVID-19.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has expanded its partnership with VBI Vaccines Inc. to advance the development of multivalent coronavirus vaccines that could be deployed against COVID-19 and possible future coronaviruses with pandemic potential, referred to as coronavirus X.
Quantbiores A/S has discovered peptides acting as spike glycoprotein (S) (SARS-CoV-2)/ACE2 interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19).
Texas A&M University System has discovered 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Biondvax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has reported statistically significant efficacy results from an in vivo proof-of-concept study of its innovative inhaled nanosized antibody (NanoAb) COVID-19 therapy.
Investigators at the University of Bristol and Biognos AB have identified a structural feature that distinguished the deadly coronavirus strains from harmless, common cold-causing variants. The findings, which were published in the Nov. 23, 2022, issue of Science Advances, could form the basis of universal COVID antivirals, putting an end to the endless race to deal with new variants that has so far been a necessity.
The researchers showed that the same pocket, a binding site for linoleic acid (LA), was present in all variants of concern (VOCs) that have emerged since 2020. “Intriguingly, all SARS-CoV-2 VOCs stringently maintain this pocket, notably including Omicron, which accumulated a wide range of mutations in [the spike protein] elsewhere, suggesting that the pocket provides a selective advantage for the virus,” they wrote in their paper.