RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13458 PROFILE

This project uses computer simulations to find promising drug candidates against COVID-19. The top picks are then made and tested in a lab. The project is open source, meaning anyone can participate! You can even donate to help fund the research.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnyaAmM1nhE These 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.

COVID Moonshot

A global initiative to rapidly develop affordable COVID-19 therapies.

The COVID Moonshot is a collaborative effort aiming to quickly create inexpensive and accessible treatments for COVID-19. It leverages open science principles by sharing data and research openly to accelerate the drug discovery process.

SARS-CoV-2

The scientific name for the virus that causes COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. It's a type of coronavirus that spreads through respiratory droplets and can lead to severe illness in some individuals.

Viral Protease

An enzyme essential for viral replication.

Viral proteases are enzymes that play a crucial role in the life cycle of viruses. They help break down viral proteins, allowing the virus to replicate and spread within the host.

Mpro

Main protease

Mpro stands for the main protease of a virus. This enzyme is essential for viral replication and has become a target for antiviral drug development.

Compound Design

The process of creating new molecules with desired biological activity.

Compound design is a crucial step in drug discovery. Scientists use their knowledge of molecular structures and biological targets to create new compounds that may have therapeutic effects.

Synthesis

The process of creating chemical compounds.

Synthesis refers to the creation of chemical compounds through various reactions and processes. In drug development, synthesis is crucial for producing large quantities of potential therapies.