Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19

8-hydroxyquinoline cysteine protease inhibitors, and more specifically, nitroxoline and its derivatives, can be used in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Mechanism of action with precisely defined target. Variety of derivatives with improved binding properties.

The invention provides a compound with a formula for use in the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2. It also further details a pharmaceutical composition and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent, for use in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Cathepsin B inhibitors, in particular 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, inactivate with superior efficacy host and/or viral proteases, involved in SARS-CoV-2 cell entry and viral replication. Nitroxoline, used in clinical practice for the treatment of urinary tract infections, expresses its antibiotics activity as a metal ion chelator. Synergistic activity of cathepsin B inhibition and metal ion chelation result in the strong potential of Nitroxoline and other 8-hydroxyquinoline cysteine protease inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.

New treatment for SARS-CoV-2.
Pharmaceutical sector.

Published patent application EP4255430

Paper (PDF available):
"Cathepsin inhibitors nitroxoline and its derivatives inhibit
SARS-CoV-2 infection". Bonotto et Al. 2023
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105655