"The main Sars-CoV-2 protease is an enzyme that is crucial for the virus. It processes a large polyprotein – around 790kDa – that the virus makes by hijacking our own cell’s machinery, and then cleaves it into 12 smaller proteins that include the machinery the virus needs to replicate itself. The team at the University of Luebeck previously developed broad-spectrum inhibitors against this protease, known as α-ketoamides, for the major two types of coronaviruses that infect humans ... One compound, α-ketoamide 13b, inhibited the main protease of the virus, as well as the related Mers virus. The 13b inhibitor developed in Hilgenfeld’s lab was given to mice using a nebuliser without any adverse effects. This suggests direct delivery to the lungs may be feasible in Covid-19 patients. ... The virus’s major protease has been shown to be essential in other related viruses and as there are no identical proteases in the human body, it is a viable target,’ ... Perhaps the best example of protease inhibitors are those against HIV."
Potent coronavirus drug candidate designed using 3D structure of key viral enzyme | Research | Chemistry World: Inhibitor of Sars-CoV-2 protease shows promise in early animal tests
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