Host-directed FDA-approved drugs with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 identified by hierarchical in silico/in vitro screening methods

• Published in: bioRxiv
• Main Authors: Ginex, Tiziana, Garaigorta, Urtzi, Ramírez, David, Castro, Victoria, Nozal, Vanesa, Maestro, Ines, García-Cárceles, Javier, Campillo, Nuria E, Martinez, Ana, Gastaminza, Pablo, Gil, Carmen
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 05.03.2021
• Subjects: Antiviral activity; Antiviral agents; Clofazimine; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Drugs; Imatinib; Pandemics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.26.399436

Abstract The unprecedent situation generated by the COVID-19 global emergency prompted us to actively work to fight against this pandemic by searching for repurposable agents among FDA approved drugs to shed light into immediate opportunities for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In the attempt to proceed toward a proper rationalization of the search for new antivirals among approved drugs, we carried out a hierarchical in silico/in vitro protocol which successfully combines virtual and biological screening to speed up the identification of host-directed therapies against COVID-19 in an effective way. To this end a multi-target virtual screening approach focused on host-based targets related to viral entry followed by the experimental evaluation of the antiviral activity of selected compounds has been carried out. As a result, five different potentially repurposable drugs interfering with viral entry, cepharantine, clofazimine, metergoline, imatinib and efloxate, have been identified. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.