CHICAGO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a chemical compound called MM3122 that targets a key human protein called transmembrane (TMPRSS2) that coronaviruses harness to enter and infect human cells.

Studying cells growing in the lab that were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the researchers found that MM3122 protected the cells from viral damage much better than remdesivir, a treatment already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with COVID-19. An acute safety test in mice showed that large doses of the compound given for seven days did not cause any noticeable problems.

The researchers also found that the compound was as effective against the original Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

"The compound we're developing prevents the virus from entering cells. We are examining the therapeutic window within which the molecule can be administered to mice and protect them from disease," said senior author James W. Janetka, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics. "Our ultimate goal is to advance the molecules into an inhibitor that can be taken by mouth and that could become an effective part of our armamentarium of inhibitors of COVID-19."

Janetka and his colleagues are now collaborating with researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to test the effectiveness of MM3122 in treating and preventing COVID-19 in animal models of the disease.

The study was published online Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Enditem

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