Low dose of emetine as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus therapy: preclinical in vitro inhibition and in vivo pharmacokinetic evidences.

ABSTRACT: The global pandemic of COVID-19 has attracted extensive drug searching interets for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Although currently several of clinically used "old" drugs have been repurposed to this new disease for the urgent clinical investigation, there is still great demand for more effective therapies for the anti-infections. Here we report the discovery that an "old" drug Emetine could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus replication and displayed virus entry blocking effect in Vero cells at low dose. In addition, Emetine could significantly reduce the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein level and moderately reduce the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) protein level in the M1 polarized THP-1 macrophages. In vivo animal pharmacokinetics (PK) study revealed that E

SUBMITTER: Wang A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7700809 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature