John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Stanford researchers have unveiled a promising new compound, ML2006a4, designed at the atomic level, which could serve as a potent anti-coronavirus drug in the fight against evolving COVID-19 variants. The compound, detailed in a paper published in Science Translational Medicine, has shown superior efficacy in preclinical experiments compared to the current oral drug Paxlovid.
Senior author of the study, Michael Lin, emphasized the need for alternative drugs that are more resilient to mutations, stating, "As new waves of coronavirus keep crashing down, we need to have alternative drugs that are more tolerant of mutations and not as easy for the virus to defeat."
The compound, crafted atom-by-atom by the Stanford team, demonstrated a 20-fold higher binding affinity to the coronavirus protease compared to Paxlovid. This enhanced binding affinity allows ML2006a4 to stay attached to the protease for over five hours, significantly longer than Paxlovid, offering the potential for spaced-out, smaller doses to effectively combat the virus.
Lin explained that unlike Paxlovid, which consists of two drugs packaged together, ML2006a4 might not require an additional component like ritonavir, potentially avoiding drug interaction concerns and allowing for a more straightforward medication regimen.
The research team, led by Lin and including co-authors such as Shirit Einav and Catherine Blish, is now seeking further investment to advance the promising compound towards expanded preclinical testing and eventually human clinical trials. Lin expressed excitement about the progress made on a limited budget, stating, "We hope to see this promising compound developed further to stay ready for what SARS-CoV-2 throws at us next."
Funding for the research was provided by various organizations including Stanford’s Sarafan ChEM-H, the National Institutes of Health, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, among others. The team's work represents a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and its evolving variants.
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