Biomolecules & Therapeutics

The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology (한국응용약물학회)
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Antiviral Efficacy of Pralatrexate against SARS-CoV-2

  • Bae, Joon-Yong (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Gee Eun (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Heedo (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Cho, Juyoung (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jeonghun (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Jungmin (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Kisoon (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jin Il (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Man-Seong (Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2021.02.08
  • Accepted : 2021.03.01
  • Published : 2021.05.01
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Abstract

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused more than 100 million confirmed cases of human infectious disease (COVID-19) since December 2019 to paralyze our global community. However, only limited access has been allowed to COVID-19 vaccines and antiviral treatment options. Here, we report the efficacy of the anticancer drug pralatrexate against SARS-CoV-2. In Vero and human lung epithelial Calu-3 cells, pralatrexate reduced viral RNA copies of SARS-CoV-2 without detectable cytotoxicity, and viral replication was successfully inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. In a time-to-addition assay, pralatrexate treatment at almost half a day after infection also exhibited inhibitory effects on the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in Calu-3 cells. Taken together, these results suggest the potential of pralatrexate as a drug repurposing COVID-19 remedy.

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References

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