IISc out with Covid antiviral drug, may help in cancer research too

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, August 5

In promising news for long-term Covid response, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have reported a new class of drugs that may work against the SARS-CoV2 virus.

Virus inhibitor

The Health Ministry says the research at the IISc pertains to a new class of artificial and synthetic peptide inhibitors (peptide drugs) that can inhibit the Covid-causing virus and may also find use in cancer treatment research.

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Further research on the drug is under way.

The current spectrum of antivirals against Covid-19 is limited though vaccine options are widely available. The government has been informed of the drug discovery.

The Health Ministry says the research at the IISc pertains to a new class of artificial, synthetic peptide inhibitors (peptide drugs) that can inhibit the Covid-causing virus and may also find use in cancer treatment research.

“As proof, IISc scientists designed one such inhibitor that binds to the receptor-binding site of the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, thus preventing infection both in the test tube and hamster model. In general, research on drugs that have been used for the treatment and management of Covid are tested for repurposing in laboratory settings for other disease models, including cancer,” the ministry said.

Human insulin and growth hormones are some examples of peptide drugs made using recombinant DNA technology.