Singapore discovers small molecule inhibitors for COVID-19

Currently, the only treatment for COVID-19 approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is Remdesivir, but it has to be administered via intravenous infusion, and can therefore only be used in a hospital setting. A much more ideal drug for COVID-19 and other pandemics should be in the form of a widely available pill, which a doctor can prescribe for patients to take orally at home. The Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), a national platform in Singapore hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), is making headway in the endeavour to develop such a drug. It has recently discovered several small molecules that have shown to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus strains. Known as protease inhibitors, EDDC’s novel small molecule drug candidates target SARS-CoV-2 directly. Specifically, the compounds target the virus’s main protease (also known as 3CL protease or 3CLpro). EDDC is collaborating with Singapore’s DSO National Laboratories to validate these 3CLpro inhibitors with live virus experiments in DSO’s BioSafety Level 3 facility. Results have shown that the compounds are highly potent and selective.