A Structure-based Drug Discovery Effort to Combat COVID-19 and Future Outbreaks

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China just a few months ago isadvancing at an incredible rate in the United States and the rest of the world. It is impacting everyone's lives,as well as crippling the global economy, health care systems, and more. The disease is caused by the SevereAcute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen, and it appears to exert its mostdevastating effects on people's respiratory and pulmonary systems although recent reports have also citedcardiac complications in otherwise healthy individuals. Based on analyzed data from confirmed cases in theUnited States between February 12th and March 28th, the CentersforDiseaseControlandPreventiondisclosed that people with substance use disorders such as those with histories of smoking, as well as thosewith diabetes, chronic lung disease, and heart disease may be at increased risk of developing severecomplications from COVID-19. Considering the prevalence of these health conditions in the United States, theglobal COVID-19 cases approaching 1 million at the time of this writing, the alarming COVID-19 projections forthe month of April, the likelihood that COVID-19 becomes seasonal, and the fast pace at which SARS-CoVpathogens evolve into forms with higher cross-species transmission and/or higher affinity for human receptors,theredoctorsagainstagainstis no doubt that the scientific world must mobilize to offer as many solutions as possible to help medicaland health care providers save lives. Among these solutions, are suggestions for new medicationsCOVID-19, considering repurposed or may not prove effectiveCOVID-19. against drugs in clinical trials mayIn this application, we propose to expand the range of potential medicationsthat currentlyCOVID-19 using a rational, structure-based drug discovery approach focused on the virus-receptor recognitionmechanism, which regulates its infection, pathogenesis, and host range.