2. Academic Validation
  3. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease as drug target

The SARS-CoV-2 main protease as drug target

  • Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2020 Sep 1;30(17):127377. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127377.
Sven Ullrich 1,  Christoph Nitsche 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
  • 2 Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 32738988 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127377
Abstract

The unprecedented pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is threatening global health. The virus emerged in late 2019 and can cause a severe disease associated with significant mortality. Several vaccine development and drug discovery campaigns are underway. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease is considered a promising drug target, as it is dissimilar to human proteases. Sequence and structure of the main protease are closely related to those from other betacoronaviruses, facilitating drug discovery attempts based on previous lead compounds. Covalently binding peptidomimetics and small molecules are investigated. Various compounds show Antiviral activity in infected human cells.

Keywords

Antivirals; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Peptidomimetics; Protease inhibitors.

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