SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins interact with the eukaryotic translation machinery and inhibitors of translation have potent antiviral effects. Here we report that the drug plitidepsin (aplidin), which has limited clinical approval, possesses antiviral activity (IC90 = 0.88 nM) 27.5-fold more potent than remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, with limited toxicity in cell culture. Through the use of a drug resistant mutant, we show that the antiviral activity of plitidepsin against SARS-CoV-2 is mediated through inhibition of the known target eEF1A. We demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of plitidepsin treatment in two mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infection with a reduction of viral replication in the lungs by two orders of magnitude using prophylactic treatment. Our results indicate that plitidepsin is a promising therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.
Plitidepsin found to work better than... - Lung Conditions C...
Plitidepsin found to work better than remdesivir for treating COVID-19.
![2greys profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/a9ca17ff0998af8a344aa9e934606936_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Written by
![2greys profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/a9ca17ff0998af8a344aa9e934606936_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
2greys
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
1 Reply
•
Sounds promising especially as plitidepsin causes very few side effects.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Immunological memory after SARS-CoV-2 infection recovery. *The welcome news we have been waiting for*
Until now, it was unclear whether a survived SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 leads to a persistent...
COVID-19: Berlin scientists lay basis for a passive vaccination.
Treating infectious diseases with antibodies has a long history. For COVID-19, this approach is...
Test confirms no trace of coronavirus in Canberra's sewage.
A comprehensive testing program has found no traces of SARS-CoV-2 in Canberra's sewage system. The...
Discovery of a druggable pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could stop virus in its tracks.
A druggable pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein that could be used to stop the virus from...
Study confirms cats can become infected with and may transmit COVID-19 to other cats.
In a study published today (May 13, 2020) in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists in the...