A coronavirus assembly inhibitor that targets the viral membrane protein.

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus membrane protein (M) is the main organizer of coronavirus assembly^1-3. Here, we report on an M-targeting molecule, CIM-834, that blocks the assembly of SARS-CoV-2. CIM-834 was obtained through high-throughput phenotypic antiviral screening followed by medicinal-chemistry efforts and target elucidation. CIM-834 inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (including a broad panel of variants) and SARS-CoV. In SCID mice and Syrian hamsters intranasally infected with SARS-CoV-2, oral treatment reduced lung viral titres to nearly undetectable levels, even (as shown in mice) when treatment was delayed until 24 h before the end point. Treatment of infected hamsters prevented transmission to untreated sentinels. Transmission electron microscopy studies show that virion assemb

SUBMITTER: Laporte M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11981944 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature