Antiviral drugs targeting the coronavirus replication enzyme
Official title: Small Molecule Inhibitors Against 3C-Like Protease of SARS-CoV-2
Funded at Kansas State University · NIH-11284011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing small antiviral compounds that block a key coronavirus enzyme to help people exposed to or infected by SARS-CoV-2.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhattan, United States) |
| Project start | August 6, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $727,637 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI161085-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People exposed to or in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or those at high risk of severe COVID-19, would be the most likely candidates for future treatment.
✕Less likely to help
People with illnesses caused by non-coronavirus pathogens or those needing immediate emergency care are unlikely to benefit from these specific antiviral compounds.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing small-molecule drugs that stop a coronavirus enzyme called 3CLpro, which the virus needs to copy itself. Laboratory tests show these compounds can block human coronaviruses in cell cultures, and early experiments found benefit in infected mice. The team uses high-resolution crystal structures to make sure the drugs fit the viral enzyme precisely and to guide improvements. The work aims to create broad-spectrum antivirals that could work against current and future coronaviruses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could reduce viral replication and lower the severity or duration of COVID-19 and related coronavirus infections.
How similar studies have gone: Related compounds have blocked coronaviruses in cell studies and shown efficacy in animal models, and a 3CLpro inhibitor for feline coronavirus demonstrated clinical benefit, but human clinical efficacy for SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas State University
Manhattan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Kyeong-Ok — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Chang, Kyeong-Ok
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.