RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13428 PROFILE

Scientists are using computer simulations to find new drugs that can stop the COVID-19 virus. Top candidates will be made in a lab and tested. This project is open science, meaning anyone can see the results and help. You can even donate to support the effort!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnyaAmM1nhEThese projects are rapid sprints of relative alchemical free energy calculations for prioritizing compound designs from chemists from the COVID Moonshot for synthesis.

Top-scoring molecules will be made and tested in a laboratory by the COVID Moonshot as it works to develop an open science patent-free inexpensive therapy for COVID-19 that shuts down the essential SARS-CoV-2 main viral protease.

The COVID Moonshot has already made and tested hundreds of compounds, and is pursuing several good lead series.

You can see their progress in real time here:
https://covid.postera.ai/covid/submissions/compounds To learn more about what the Moonshot is and how it came about, you can read our blog post or watch this video. In addition to helping us prioritize compounds, you can help us purchase more compounds for synthesis at cost from Enamine by sponsoring our GoFundMe page for patent-free open science COVID-19 drug discovery! This is a radical new approach to drug discovery that aims to rapidly produce inexpensive new therapies. SARS-CoV-2 main viral potease (Mpro) with ligand bound, from the RCSB.

compound

A chemical substance with a defined structure.

In drug discovery, a compound refers to a molecule that has potential medicinal properties. Chemists synthesize and test thousands of compounds to find those that effectively target diseases. These compounds are then evaluated for safety and efficacy in clinical trials.

synthesis

The process of creating a chemical compound from simpler substances.

Synthesis is the process used to create new molecules, including those with potential medicinal applications. In drug discovery, synthesis involves combining different chemical components in specific ways to produce novel compounds that can be tested for their therapeutic effects.

protease

An enzyme that breaks down proteins.

Proteases are a crucial class of enzymes that break down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. They play vital roles in various biological processes, including digestion, immune responses, and cellular signaling. In drug development, protease inhibitors are used to target specific proteases involved in disease pathways.

SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. It belongs to the coronavirus family and spreads primarily through respiratory droplets. The virus infects cells in the lungs and other parts of the body, leading to a range of symptoms from mild to severe.

COVID-19

Coronavirus Disease 2019

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread globally. Symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell. Severe cases may require hospitalization.