Thiopurines inhibit coronavirus Spike protein processing and incorporation into progeny virions

Source : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010832

Author summary The COVID-19 pandemic has ignited efforts to repurpose existing drugs as safe and effective antivirals. Rather than directly inhibiting viral enzymes, host-targeted antivirals inhibit host cell processes to indirectly impede viral replication and/or stimulate antiviral responses. Here, we describe a new antiviral mechanism of action for an FDA-approved thiopurine known as 6-thioguanine (6-TG).