Investigators at The Scripps Research Institute and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have designed novel covalent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) and assessed their drug properties in preclinical models.
Novel vaccines that can effectively target both coronaviruses and influenza viruses would be desirable to counteract the significant health burden these respiratory pathogens pose.
Sunshine Biopharma Inc. announced it has developed an orally active protease inhibitor that showed dose-dependent antiviral activity in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The Agency for Science Technology & Research (A*STAR) Bioprocessing Technology Institute has patented 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (coronavirus) inhibitors.
Westlake Pharmaceutical (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. has prepared and tested new 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of coronavirus acute respiratory syndrome.
One of the challenges associated with COVID-19 has been an increase of secondary infections, including fungal infections. These coinfections can hinder treatment efficacy and increase illness severity.