COVID-19 Induces Innovation of Drug Discovery and Development

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a single-stranded RNA virus which causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). SARS-CoV-2 invade a human airway epithelium cell through binding of its Spike (S)-protein to ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2). Approved anti-inflammatory drugs and a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitor underdevelopment for other disease were repositioned for the COVID-19 treatment. Furthermore, neutralization antibodies targeting the S-protein and antiviral drugs of RdRp or 3CL protease inhibitors were newly developed within only 3 years. The innovations of the drug discovery and development, including regulation, realized the rapid release of drugs to the market.