Scientists revealed that drugs from Ebola and the Marburg virus were effective in combating SARS-COV-2. This is reported by Science Daily.
It is noted that a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals studied three antiviral drugs that have proven their effectiveness against Ebola and the Marburg virus: Tiloron, Quinaakrin and Pizriridine.
“We were looking for compounds that could block the penetration of the virus into a cage. We chose these compounds, because we know that other antiviral drugs that successfully act against Ebola are also effective inhibitors of SARS-COV-2,” said Cauthor Research, Researcher Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Ana Pul.
They were tested on cell cultures against SARS-COV-2, as well as against the usual cold virus (HCOV 229E) and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). Cell lines were infected with various viruses, and then rated how well drugs prevent the virus replication in cells.
Specialists found that all three drugs work similarly to Remidesivir, which is now used to treat COVID-19. At the same time, in Vero cells, they were not effective at all. It was also found that compounds are effective not only against SARS-COV-2, but also against related coronaviruses.