A peptide fusion blocker for multiple coronaviruses, the cryo-EM structure of SARS-CoV-2 main protease, plus Locus, Excision and Harvard-Dana-Farber

Fudan University develops pan-coronavirus inhibitor
A team led by Fudan University researchers has developed a lipopeptide-based pan-coronavirus inhibitor of viral membrane fusion. Described in a preprint on the bioRxiv server, the lipopeptide binds the SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV spike proteins outside its receptor-binding domain, and prevents the spike from promoting membrane fusion. In cell culture, the peptide inhibited infection by six human coronaviruses, including COVID-19, MERS-CoV and common cold virus HCoV-OC43 with IC₅₀ values of 4.2-187.6 nM. Therapeutic or prophylactic intranasal delivery of the therapy increased survival in a mouse model of HCoV-OC43 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 protease cryo-EM structure revealed
Researchers at Diamond Light Source, the U.K.’s national synchrotron, have uncovered the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, 3CLpro, which could facilitate drug development against the target. At least two products thought to inhibit 3CLpro, which processes viral proteins required for SARS-CoV-2 replication, are in clinical trials for COVID-19: ASC09F from Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX:1672) and lopinavir/ritonavir (see “Coronavirus Biology”)...