In the early 1950s, psychiatrists began treating schizophrenia with a new drug called chlorpromazine. Seven decades later, the drug is still used as an anti-psychotic.But now scientists have discovered that the drug, also known as Thorazine, can do something entirely different. It can stop the new coronavirus
In the early 1950s, psychiatrists began treating schizophrenia with a new drug called chlorpromazine. Seven decades later, the drug is still used as an anti-psychotic.
As researchers publish findings on these promising drugs, they’re starting tests on animals and people to see how well they perform. Story continuesBut over the years, researchers have found some drugs that originally had nothing to do with viruses turn out to be good antivirals, too. It’s just hard to tell in advance which ones have this hidden power.
Recently, Chanda’s team in California began a mammoth search of their own for drugs to repurpose for COVID-19. They doused infected cells with 13,000 compounds and looked for ones that slowed down the virus. They then narrowed down these candidates by reducing their doses, in order to mimic the levels that would end up in a patient’s lungs.
Krogan’s team found 69 drugs that target the same proteins in our cells the virus does. They published the list in a preprint last month, suggesting that some might prove effective against COVID-19. Shoichet speculated that these compounds starve the virus of the proteins it needs to make new copies of itself. This attack may suddenly halt the viral production line.The other compounds home in on a pair of proteins known as Sigma-1 and Sigma-2 receptors. These receptors are part of the cell’s communication network, helping the cell withstand stress in its environment.
In addition, Krogan said that all of Frieman’s candidates, including chlorpromazine, target Sigma receptors. A third of Chanda’s candidates do too, he said. Last week, the FDA issued a warning against using hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside the hospital setting or a clinical trial. That’s because the drug has a well-known risk for causing irregular heart rhythms.
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