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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
09:29
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Advances in Antiviral Drug Development Targeting Viral Proteases
Yuanyuan Zhang1, Jiaxin Chen1, Jiaqi Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, KLMDASR of Tianjin and Drug Discovery Center for Infectious Disease, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
Medicinal Research Reviews
|July 7, 2026
Summary
This review highlights advances in antiviral drug development targeting viral proteases, crucial for viral replication. It explores structural insights, inhibitor design, resistance mechanisms, and novel strategies like AI for future drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Drug Discovery
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Viral proteases are essential for viral replication and are conserved across strains, making them key targets for antiviral therapies.
- Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in developing effective antiviral treatments.
- Understanding protease structures is fundamental for designing targeted inhibitors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent progress in antiviral drug development focused on viral protease structures.
- To discuss inhibitor design strategies and mechanisms to overcome drug resistance.
- To explore the application of artificial intelligence in viral protease-based drug discovery.
Main Methods:
- Structure-based drug design principles.
- Analysis of various inhibitor classes (peptidomimetic, non-peptidic, natural products).
- Review of resistance mechanisms and advanced therapeutic strategies (allosteric, dual-target, PROTACs).
Main Results:
- Detailed examination of protease structures for SARS-CoV-2, EV71, HCV, and HIV.
- Discussion of diverse inhibitor types and their design rationales.
- Exploration of innovative approaches to combat drug resistance.
Conclusions:
- Viral protease inhibitors represent a promising avenue for antiviral drug development.
- Advanced strategies and AI hold significant potential for overcoming drug resistance and accelerating discovery.
- Structure-guided design remains critical for effective antiviral therapeutics.
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