Protease-blocking medicines for COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors for treating COVID-19
Developing new medicines that block key coronavirus enzymes to help people with COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10848439 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Purdue are designing and testing small-molecule drugs that block two viral enzymes (3CLpro and PLpro) SARS-CoV-2 needs to replicate. They will build on prior antiviral chemistry that worked against SARS and MERS, using lab binding and activity assays, bioavailability testing, and animal models to find the most promising compounds. The team aims to optimize safety and how the drugs behave in the body before moving lead candidates toward clinical testing. If a candidate looks good in preclinical work, it could advance into human trials at Purdue and collaborating sites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Once human trials begin, ideal participants would be people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially those early in illness or at higher risk of severe disease.
Not a fit: People without an active COVID-19 infection or those whose illness is driven mainly by late immune damage rather than viral replication are unlikely to benefit from antiviral protease inhibitors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could shorten or prevent severe COVID-19 by stopping the virus from multiplying in the body.
How similar studies have performed: Related protease inhibitors (for example drugs targeting the same viral protease) have shown clinical benefit, and this work builds on earlier successful antiviral chemistry for SARS and MERS.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghosh, Arun K — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Ghosh, Arun K
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 below.