Peptidomimetic

Pathology

Virology

Enzyme

Proteases

Chemistry

Virus

Protease

Coronavirus

Disease

Peptide

Antiviral drug

Drug

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Biochemistry

Drug development

Medicine

Drug discovery

Biology

Pandemic

Pharmacology

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

The unprecedented pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is threatening global health. The virus emerged in late 2019 and can cause a severe disease associated with significant mortality. Several vaccine development and drug discovery campaigns are underway. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease is considered a promising drug target, as it is dissimilar to human proteases. Sequence and structure of the main protease are closely related to those from other betacoronaviruses, facilitating drug discovery attempts based on previous lead compounds. Covalently binding peptidomimetics and small molecules are investigated. Various compounds show antiviral activity in infected human cells.

The SARS-CoV-2 main protease as drug target