Anti Hepatitis C virus drugs show potential drug repositioning for SARS CoV-2 main protease: an in silico study
Arthikasree Anandamurthy, Roslin Elsa Varughese, Saranya Sivaraj, Dasararaju Gayathri · 2020
Abstract Developing effective and safe vaccines/drugs against SARS CoV-2 may take some time. The urgency of the outbreak has led to the usage of broad spectrum of existing anti-viral drugs, across the globe. Among the existing anti-viral drugs, there is still a challenge in identifying the potent drug or the combination of the drugs for the better treatment and faster recovery of the patients. In silico molecular docking study aids in the process of drug repurposing and we aimed to identify the binding potential of some of the existing anti-viral drugs and their interactions at the active site of SARS CoV-2 main protease. Results from our study revealed that the drugs Simeprevir, Elbasvir, Paritaprevir, Beclabuvir, Dasabuvir, Teleprevir, Velpatasvir, Ombitasvir, Ledipasvir, Boceprevir, Asunapervir, Declatasvir, Sofusbuvir which are used in the treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection may act as potent inhibitors for SARS CoV-2 main protease.