How severe a viral infection is depends on how much the virus is replicating, damaging cells as it does so, and on the response of the immune system. Or so one would think. “Some of the most severe cases of COVID-19 are happening in the absence of replicating virus,” Joseph Guarnieri told BioWorld. In work published in Science Translational Medicine on Aug. 9, 2023, Guarnieri and his colleagues have described how those severe cases unfold, even as there is no replicating virus to be found.
Lemonex Inc. announced that the IND application for its mRNA vaccine candidate LEM-mR203 has been approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on July 21, 2023. The company plans to evaluate LEM-mR203 as potential treatment for COVID-19, with the planned phase I clinical trial being designed to assess its safety and immunogenicity in healthy adults at Seoul National University Hospital, Korea.
Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has divulged 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro) (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.
Researchers from Infex Therapeutics Ltd. have announced the nomination of a clinical candidate for its in-house developed COV-X program. The novel first-in-class small molecule is an oral pan-coronavirus papain-like protease (PLpro) inhibitor, which was selected based on preclinical data that demonstrated in vivo efficacy of the candidate a murine model of SARS-CoV-2.
Suzhou Ark Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
Shanghai Curegene Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized macrocyclic compounds acting as 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
Immunic AG has identified deuterated dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors containing a carboxylic acid bioisostere. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, influenza, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and cancer, among others.
The most in-depth study to date of the genetic risk factors for long COVID has identified 73 genes that are highly associated with severe or fatigue-dominant forms of the disease. Many of these genes also are known to be associated with other disorders, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and neurodegenerative, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.