RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13455 PROFILE

Scientists are using computer simulations to find new drugs that can stop the virus that causes COVID-19. The top-rated drug candidates will be made in a lab and tested. You can track their progress online and even help fund this 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 or molecule with a specific chemical structure.

A compound is a type of molecule made up of two or more different elements chemically bonded together. In medicine and drug discovery, compounds are often tested to see if they have beneficial effects on the body.

COVID Moonshot

A global initiative to rapidly develop and make available effective treatments for COVID-19.

The COVID Moonshot is a collaborative effort bringing together researchers, scientists, and organizations worldwide to accelerate the development of new therapies for COVID-19. The goal is to create affordable, accessible treatments quickly.

SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. It is a type of coronavirus, a family of viruses known to cause respiratory illnesses.

Viral Protease

An enzyme produced by viruses that plays a role in viral replication.

Viral proteases are essential proteins made by viruses. They help the virus replicate (make copies of itself) by cutting up specific viral proteins.

Open Science

A movement promoting free access to research data and publications.

Open science is a way of doing research that emphasizes making data and findings publicly available. This allows researchers to collaborate more easily and accelerate scientific progress.