Exploring therapeutic treatments for COVID

Virologists in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, have published a study showing a possible therapeutic treatment for COVID-19.

Yunjeong Kim and Kyeong-Ok Chang had already been using NIH grants to develop antiviral drugs. Their work now extends to COVID-19 research.

Their treatment involves protease inhibitors targeting coronavirus 3CLpro (not to be confused with 3cpo). 3CLpro is a well-known therapeutic target that plays a vital role in coronavirus replication. 

The 3CLpro inhibitors blocked replication of the human coronaviruses MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in cultured cells. Now the series of compounds will be investigated further as a potential therapeutic for human coronavirus infection.

K-State Innovations Partners handles commercial technology licensing for the university.