Scientists Identify Five Drug Compounds That Completely Stop SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Interrupting Communication Pathways in Host Cells

Researchers have patented their technique of inhibiting cellular growth factor signaling to stop the SARS-CoV-2 from replicating and treat COVID-19, according to a report by Drug Target Review.

A team of biochemists and virologists from the Goethe University Frankfurt (Frankfurt, Germany) found that SARS-CoV-2 requires growth factor receptor cell signaling pathways for replication and have patented their method of interrupting these pathways to treat COVID-19.

Previous studies have found that the activity of proteins involved in these signaling cascades is generally controlled by the attachment or removal of phosphate groups. The addition or removal of a phosphate group on a protein triggers the propagation of such signals which usually target the cell nucleus, leading to the expression or silencing of specified genes. The researchers documented how these communication pathways are impacted when cells are infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In order to document the signals, the team analyzed all the proteins carrying a phosphate group at a given moment in time, also known as the phosphoproteome.

The team found that SARS-CoV-2 infection activated growth factor receptor signaling (and its downstream signaling cascades). With the help of drug-protein network analysis, the researchers also demonstrated inhibition of growth factor receptor downstream signaling using five approved drug compounds that prevented SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells. This was assessed by cytopathic effect, viral dsRNA production and viral RNA release into the supernatant, according to the Drug Target Review report.

Dr. Christian Münch from the Institute of Biochemistry II at Goethe University told Drug Target Review, “The signaling pathways of the growth factors can be blocked precisely at the point where the signal from outside the cell docks onto a signal receiver - a growth factor receptor. There are, however, a number of very effective cancer drugs that interrupt growth factor signaling pathways slightly further down the cascade, through which the signals of different growth factor receptors are blocked. We have tested five of these substances on our cells, and all five led to a complete stop of SARS-CoV-2 replication.”

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