RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13429 PROFILE

Scientists are using computer simulations to find new drugs that can stop the COVID-19 virus. The top candidates will be tested in labs. You can track their progress online and even help fund the research!

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 substance with a defined chemical structure.

In pharmacology and chemistry, a compound refers to a substance made up of two or more elements chemically combined. Compounds are often used in drug development to create new medications that can treat diseases.

SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. It's a type of coronavirus that primarily affects the respiratory system.

viral protease

An enzyme produced by viruses that cleaves viral proteins.

Viral proteases are essential for the replication of viruses. They act as enzymes that break down viral proteins, allowing the virus to assemble new particles and infect more cells.

COVID Moonshot

An initiative to rapidly develop an effective treatment for COVID-19.

The COVID Moonshot is a collaborative effort involving scientists, researchers, and organizations from around the world. Its goal is to accelerate the development of new therapies for COVID-19 by using open science principles and rapid prototyping.

GoFundMe

A website for raising money online.

GoFundMe is a popular platform that allows individuals and organizations to raise funds for various causes. People can create campaigns and share them with their networks, encouraging donations.