Antiviral Drug News and Research

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Everything you need to know about Paxlovid — especially, should you take it?

When President Joe Biden tested positive for covid-19 on July 21, his physician recommended he take the antiviral drug Paxlovid.

28 Jul 2022

Study finds molnupiravir well-tolerated, and effective in vaccinated and unvaccinated

Researchers report the phase II efficacy and safety of molnupiravir in both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals.

27 Jul 2022

Study confirms efficacy of molnupiravir against COVID in a real-life cohort

Researchers report the efficacy and safety of molnupiravir in treating COVID-19.

26 Jul 2022

Scientists introduce SARS-CoV-2 phenotype screening for identifying novel antiviral drugs

Researchers introduced a phenotypic screening assay for identifying compounds with SARS-CoV-2 inhibition potential based on caspase 3/7 activation.

20 Jul 2022

Molnupiravir does not induce resistance mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome

A new study has pointed out that Molnupiravir treatment increases the ratio of transition to transversion mutations in COVID-19 patients and that the treatment does not appear to induce resistance mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

19 Jul 2022

Study shows how a critical Lassa virus protein drives infection

Lassa fever is a viral illness that is far too common in West Africa. Although it can have a mortality rate of 15 percent in severe cases, up to 90% in pregnant women, and causes deafness in a quarter of survivors, there is no vaccine or antiviral to protect against Lassa virus.

19 Jul 2022

Novel nanoligomer approach to treat severe COVID-19

Researchers discuss the biodistribution and safety of a novel nanoligomer SBCoV207, which was used to targeted miR-2392 in a murine model.

17 Jul 2022

Texas Biomed professor to join $577 million effort for developing antivirals against COVID-19 and other viruses

As the coronavirus waves keep coming and cases are on the rise once again, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently launched a $577 million effort to develop antivirals against COVID-19 and other viruses with high pandemic potential.

15 Jul 2022

Stinging nettle extract inhibits SARS-CoV-2 cell fusion

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers at Ghent University and KU Leuven, Belgium, demonstrated that Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), a monomeric lectin extracted from stinging nettle rhizomes, inhibited severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) cell to cell fusion.

12 Jul 2022

Vaccination against smallpox efficiently protects against monkeypox infection

In a new study, researchers assessed the existing information regarding monkeypox infections.

6 Jul 2022

Rensselaer scientists secure $3.5 million grant to develop a low-dose, oral COVID antiviral drug

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers Gaetano Montelione and Christopher Cioffi will use a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to develop a low-dose, oral COVID antiviral drug that can be administered at home.

27 Jun 2022

Researchers identify orally efficacious antiviral drug against respiratory syncytial virus

An oral antiviral drug that targets a key part of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) polymerase and inhibits the synthesis of viral genetic material has been identified, a finding that could provide an effective treatment against RSV disease, according to researchers in the Center for Translational Antiviral Research at Georgia State University.

24 Jun 2022

Scientists develop suitable human cell line for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug screening

Scientists have described the development of a modified A549 cell line that shows a robust expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

24 Jun 2022

COVID-19 rebound risks similar for Paxlovid and Molnupiravir

In a recent article posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, investigators in the United States illustrated that rebound of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can occur in some patients following molnupiravir and Paxlovid SARS-CoV-2 therapy.

23 Jun 2022

Potential SARS-CoV-2 antivirals based on host miRNAs

A recent research paper posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server demonstrated micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) as potential antiviral options against various coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

21 Jun 2022

Genetically modified herpes virus can be used in the fight against cancer

Viruses can make animals and humans sick - or healthy: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB have succeeded in genetically modifying the herpes simplex virus type 1, which triggers painful cold sores, in such a way that it can be used in the fight against cancer in the future.

1 Jun 2022

Scientists determine trajectory and pathophysiology of post-COVID-19 syndrome

A new study utilizes multisystem imaging, along with biomarker analysis, to better understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

30 May 2022

The effectiveness of sotrovimab vs. molnupiravir in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes in non-hospitalized high-risk COVID-19 adult patients

Researchers compared the efficacy of sotrovimab and molnupiravir in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes among non-hospitalized and high-risk COVID-19 patients across England.

25 May 2022

University of Minnesota receives $66 million to establish new antiviral drug discovery center

The University of Minnesota has received $66 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to establish a center to develop antiviral drugs for pandemic-level viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

23 May 2022

UNC-Chapel Hill secures $65 million NIH grant for establishing Antiviral Drug Discovery Center

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health awarded the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health a $65 million grant establishing an Antiviral Drug Discovery Center to develop oral antivirals that can combat pandemic-level viruses like COVID-19.

20 May 2022