Ethacridine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 by inactivating viral particles in cellular models.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, which is now the third-leading cause of death in the United States. The FDA has recently approved remdesivir, an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 replication, to treat COVID-19, though recent data from the WHO shows little to no benefit with use of this anti-viral agent. Here we report the discovery of ethacridine, a safe antiseptic use in humans, as a potent drug for use against SARS-CoV-2 (EC₅₀ ~ 0.08 μM). Ethacridine was identified via high-throughput screening of an FDA-approved drug library in living cells using a fluorescent assay. Interestingly, the main mode of action of ethacridine is through inactivation of viral particles, preventing their binding to the host cells. Indeed, ethacridine is effect

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7605555 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature