Preventive and therapeutic benefits of nelfinavir in rhesus macaques and human beings infected with SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: Effective drugs with broad spectrum safety profile to all people are highly expected to combat COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here we report that nelfinavir, an FDA approved drug for the treatment of HIV infection, is effective against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Preincubation of nelfinavir could inhibit the activity of the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 (IC₅₀ = 8.26 μM), while its antiviral activity in Vero E6 cells against a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2 was determined to be 2.93 μM (EC₅₀). In comparison with vehicle-treated animals, rhesus macaque prophylactically treated with nelfinavir had significantly lower temperature and significantly reduced virus loads in the nasal and anal swabs of the animals. At necropsy, nelfinavir-treated animals had a significant reduc

SUBMITTER: Xu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10123561 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature