Recent Advances in SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors: From Nirmatrelvir to Future Perspectives

oleh: Andrea Citarella, Alessandro Dimasi, Davide Moi, Daniele Passarella, Angela Scala, Anna Piperno, Nicola Micale

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-09-01

Deskripsi

The main protease (M<sup>pro</sup>) plays a pivotal role in the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is considered a highly conserved viral target. Disruption of the catalytic activity of M<sup>pro</sup> produces a detrimental effect on the course of the infection, making this target one of the most attractive for the treatment of COVID-19. The current success of the SARS-CoV-2 M<sup>pro</sup> inhibitor Nirmatrelvir, the first oral drug for the treatment of severe forms of COVID-19, has further focused the attention of researchers on this important viral target, making the search for new M<sup>pro</sup> inhibitors a thriving and exciting field for the development of antiviral drugs active against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses.