A new breakthrough in the quest for a drug to combat coronaviruses.

In addition to vaccines, which are primarily preventive, many scientists are also working on drugs to combat coronavirus infections. And while treatments have been developed over the past five years, particularly for high-risk patients, a number of challenges remain in this field.

In this context, the team led by Rega Institute virologist Professor Johan Neyts and that of Patrick Chaltin at the Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3) in Leuven have just made a discovery that could lead to the development of an effective drug. Their study was published in the scientific journal Nature.

Belgian researchers have successfully identified a molecule capable of completely inhibiting the production of new coronaviruses. This molecule was then optimised and strengthened to become an even more powerful viral inhibitor, named CIM-834.

By analysing the way this CIM-834 molecule acts against the virus, they discovered that the process leading to the formation of a new virus was interrupted. Even if the different components of the virus continued to be produced, this molecule made their assembly into a new viral particle impossible.

In the eyes of the international scientific community, this mechanism appears to be unprecedented, and opens up a major avenue not only for new coronavirus treatments, but also for the development of inhibitors against other families of viruses.

A wonderful Belgian discovery!