UT scientists’ remdesivir research promising
AUSTIN — Vaccines have seized the main stage in the coronavirus battle, but experts continue to work on treatments to help those already sick.
On that front, scientists at the University of Texas at Austin recently discovered the mechanics behind how the antiviral drug remdesivir inhibits the virus from replicating in the body, which could lead to more effective treatments.
Kenneth Johnson and David Taylor, co-authors of a study published recently in the journal Molecular Cell, discovered both that remdesivir acts like a paper jam in a copy machine and exactly where the jam occurs. After remdesivir hits COVID’s RNA polymerase, the virus can’t duplicate its genetic code and continue spreading throughout the body.
The findings indicate remdesivir is best taken early. Johnson likens remdesivir to Tamiflu, which interferes with the virus’ entry into the cell. When people experience flulike symptoms, they need to start taking Tamiflu within 48 hours, before the virus has damaged tissues. Waiting any longer renders the drug less effective.
“Remdesivir has to be given early on in order to stop the replication of the virus,” said Johnson, who teaches molecular biosciences. “You can’t wait until the virus has replicated and caused a lot of lung damage before you begin the treatment.”
With the coronavirus, this process proves more difficult. Remdesivir is meant to stop the virus from replicating, but sometimes symptoms don’t show until later., and people don’t go into the clinic or hospital until they experience severe symptoms. By then, the virus already has caused significant damage.
Remdesivir is used as a multiday treatment, mainly for those getting care at a clinic or hospital, but it can’t be taken for more than five days because of side effects such as liver and kidney damage, Johnson said. But now that scientists understand how the drug works and where remdesivir inhibits virus replication, companies can work toward manufacturing a less toxic, more effective treatment.
“We were able to identify the point where that paper jam happens,” Taylor said in a news release. “We know now exactly what’s creating this block. So if we want to make the blockage even worse, we could do so.”