Chemotherapy drug outperforms remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2 in lab experiments: Study


PTI, Jan 3, 2021, 3:15 PM IST

Beijing: A chemotherapy medication originally developed to treat cancer could potentially be repurposed to inhibit the replication of the novel coronavirus and treat COVID-19, according to a study based on computer simulations and lab experiments.

The research, published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology, combined multiple computational techniques that simulate drug-virus interactions from different, complementary perspectives.

Using this hybrid approach, scientists from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology in China, screened 1,906 existing drugs for their potential ability to inhibit replication of the novel coronavirus by targeting a viral protein called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP).

The researchers identified four promising drugs, which were then tested against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in lab experiments.

They said two of the drugs, pralatrexate and azithromycin, successfully inhibited replication of the virus, and further lab experiments showed that pralatrexate more strongly inhibited viral replication than did remdesivir – a drug that is currently used to treat some COVID-19 patients.

According to the scientists, the findings suggest that pralatrexate could potentially be repurposed to treat COVID-19.

However, the researchers said the chemotherapy drug may prompt significant side effects and is used for people with terminal lymphoma, so they added that immediate use for COVID-19 patients is not guaranteed.

But the research highlighted the importance of the new screening strategy to identify drugs that could be repurposed.

”We have demonstrated the value of our novel hybrid approach that combines deep-learning technologies with more traditional simulations of molecular dynamics,” said study author Haiping Zhang of the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology.

The researchers are now developing additional computational methods for generating novel molecular structures that could be developed into new drugs to treat COVID-19.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Incentive fund for SC/ST students of national institutes increased, says Minister Mahadevappa

Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport gets 4,000 sqft hydroponic green wall

Waqf properties row: JPC Chairman receives over 500 petitions from aggrieved farmers in Karnataka

Asaduddin Owaisi questions Waqf Bill JPC Chairman’s Karnataka visit

Kinnigoli: Truck carrying red stone collides with Auto-Rickshaw; driver injured

UP govt to install 150,000 toilets for Maha Kumbh, set up paying guest facilities

Kavoor Police arrest two notorious cattle thieves

Related Articles More

Don’t trust caller ID info; can be spoofed easily: Cyber advisory to govt officials

Stay Safe Online: Tips to avoid cyber fraud!

Three Chinese astronauts enter space station after successful launch

What is AI superintelligence? Could it destroy humanity? And is it really almost here?

IIT-B develops method to maintain comfortable temperature inside homes in joint research

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Incentive fund for SC/ST students of national institutes increased, says Minister Mahadevappa

K’taka govt prohibits staff from smoking, consuming tobacco products inside offices

Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport gets 4,000 sqft hydroponic green wall

Waqf properties row: JPC Chairman receives over 500 petitions from aggrieved farmers in Karnataka

ICC pitch ratings: Chepauk deemed ‘very good’, Kanpur outfield ‘unsatisfactory’

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.