Suramin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Cell Culture by Interfering with Early Steps of the Replication Cycle.

ABSTRACT: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 has impacted public health, society, the global economy, and the daily lives of billions of people in an unprecedented manner. There are currently no specific registered antiviral drugs to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections. Therefore, drug repurposing would be the fastest route to provide at least a temporary solution while better, more specific drugs are being developed. Here, we demonstrate that the antiparasitic drug suramin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication, protecting Vero E6 cells with a 50% effective concentration (EC₅₀) of ∼20 μM, which is well below the maximum attainable level in human serum. Suramin also decreased the viral load by 2 to 3 logs

SUBMITTER: Salgado-Benvindo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7526844 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature