This technology describes the development of small molecule inhibitors that are pan-inhibitors of coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 viral protease that can be used for the treatment of COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections.
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. Current methods of treatment have low clinical efficacies or require treatment administration within a narrow timeframe. The main protease of coronaviruses, 3CL protease, is essential for processing polyproteins and has become an attractive drug target.
This technology describes the development of molecule inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and other coronavirus proteases that are more potent and more coronavirus-selective than current 3CL protease inhibitors. The lead compound inhibitor has potent and broad activity against coronaviruses, a desirable pharmacokinetic profile, and is orally bioavailable. A non-covalent scaffold has also been developed.
Patent Pending
[Lui H, Iketani S, Zask A, Khanizeman N, Bednarova A, Forouhar F, Fowler B, Hong SJ, Chavez A, Ho DD, Stockwell BR. “Development of optimized drug-like small molecule inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease for treatment of COVID-19” Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 1; 13(1); 1891[(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35393402/)
IR CU22180
Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer