Transcription-based drug repurposing for COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pharmacology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The original Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS) infection alters lung epithelial cell gene expression.
• Identifying existing drugs that can counteract these changes may offer new therapeutic avenues for related viral infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify existing drugs that can be repurposed for treating COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2).
• To evaluate the antiviral efficacy of these repurposed drugs against SARS-CoV-2.

Main Methods:

• Analyzing the transcriptional response of lung epithelial cells to SARS infection.
• Screening drugs based on their ability to reverse or mimic the infection-induced gene expression profile.
• Testing promising drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.

Main Results:

• Drugs that best matched the infection profile were significantly enriched for antiviral properties.
• Nine selected drugs demonstrated potent antagonism of SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication.
• Several of these drugs are now under consideration for clinical trials.

Conclusions:

• Drug repurposing based on transcriptional response is a viable strategy for discovering COVID-19 therapeutics.
• The identified drugs represent a promising set of potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents.
• Further research may elucidate the mechanisms by which these drugs inhibit SARS-CoV-2.