4′-Fluorouridine is an oral antiviral that blocks respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2 replication

作者：Julien Sourimant, Carolin M. Lieber, Megha Aggarwal, Robert M. Cox, Josef D. Wolf, Jeong-Joong Yoon, Märt Toots, Chengjin Ye, Zachary M. Sticher, Alexander A. Kolykhalov, Luis Martínez‐Sobrido, Gregory R. Bluemling, Michael G. Natchus, George R. Painter, Richard K. Plemper · 发表于：Science · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1126/science.abj5508 · 被引用次数：137 · 研究领域：Respiratory viral infections research、Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology、SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

Preparing antiviral defenses Antiviral drugs are an important tool in the battle against COVID-19. Both remdesivir and molnupiravir, which target the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase, were first developed against other RNA viruses. This highlights the importance of broad-spectrum antivirals that can be rapidly deployed against related emerging pathogens. Sourimant et al . used respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a primary indication in identifying further drugs that target the polymerase enzyme of RNA viruses. The authors explored derivatives of molnupiravir and identified 4′ fluorouridine (EIDD-2749) as an inhibitor of the polymerase of RSV and SARS-CoV-2. This drug can be delivered orally and was effective against RSV in mice and SARS-CoV-2 in ferrets. —VV