Experimental antiviral AR-12 could be a promising COVID-19 treatment 23 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Scientists have demonstrated that AR-12 can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and are working to initiate clinical trials evaluating the antiviral drug.
Assay that mimics SARS-CoV-2 infection could test potential COVID-19 drugs 22 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Scientists have developed a new assay that uses nanoparticles to mimic how SARS-CoV-2 infects a cell, which could be used to screen for drugs that treat COVID-19.
Treg cells could be used in immunotherapy to treat multiple sclerosis, study shows 22 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Researchers have discovered how Tregs can reduce spinal cord injury caused by diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS).
Researchers discover druggable pocket on SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein 22 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) A pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein has been discovered by researchers, who say it could be a drug target for COVID-19.
Lethal poxviruses could be rendered harmless with single gene removal 21 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Researchers report that removing the vSLFN gene from the ectromelia virus (ECTV) caused a potent immune response which protected animal models.
4-PBA could prevent cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 21 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Scientists explore whether the anti-stress drug, 4-Phenylbutiric acid (4-PBA), could prevent cytokine storms causing respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients.
Psychedelic drug discovery enabling discovery of new psychiatric drugs 18 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Having resolved the structure of psychedelic drugs bound to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor researchers are now developing new therapeutic drugs.
Novel pseudo-virion probes to study SARS-CoV-2 viral entry 18 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) The non-infectious quantum dot probes are designed to enable researchers to safely study interactions between the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein and human cells.
Mystery glycoprotein could prevent respiratory distress 18 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) According to researchers, the DMBT1S8 molecule can halt inflammation in the respiratory tract through its interaction with the Siglec-8 receptor on immune cells.
A novel drug target for viral encephalitis therapies 17 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Researchers showed CXCL1 signalling to neutrophils drove brain inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis and blocking the protein resulted in less severe disease.
Could FDA-approved drug heparin prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection? 17 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) SARS-CoV-2 entry into human cells is dependent on heparan sulfate and disrupting this interaction using heparin reduces infectivity of the coronavirus, find scientists.
Drug target to combat three coronavirus diseases identified by researchers 16 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Researchers studying the PLpro binding site of three coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, say the BL2 loop could be targeted by antiviral drugs.
Engineered stem cells could evade immune system rejection, study shows 16 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) By editing out a set of proteins on the surface of human pluripotent stem cells, researchers have ensured they will be not be rejected by the body's immune system.
Novel antiviral drug candidate blocks SARS-CoV-2 reproduction in cells 16 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) In human cells, a drug candidate called PF-00835231 has demonstrated success at blocking the reproduction of SARS-CoV-2.
Tiny antibody component could treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 15 September 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) The component, now developed into a drug called Ab8, was highly effective at treating and preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models.
