RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13463 PROFILE

Scientists are using computer simulations to design new drugs against COVID-19. The best designs are made and tested in labs. This project is open science, meaning everyone can see the progress and help fund it.

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.

alchemical

Relating to the transformation of substances through chemical means.

Alchemical refers to processes and principles related to the historical practice of alchemy. In modern scientific contexts, it can describe theoretical or computational approaches used to predict and manipulate chemical reactions.

compound

A substance formed from two or more chemical elements combined in a fixed ratio.

A compound is a mixture of two or more different substances chemically bonded together. In medicine and drug discovery, compounds are often synthesized and tested for their potential therapeutic effects.

COVID Moonshot

A collaborative initiative focused on rapidly developing and distributing effective treatments for COVID-19.

The COVID Moonshot is a global effort to accelerate the development of new drugs and therapies for COVID-19. It involves researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies working together to identify promising candidates and expedite their clinical trials.

SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

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

viral protease

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

Viral proteases are essential proteins found in many viruses. They cleave specific viral proteins, facilitating the assembly and release of new virus particles. Inhibiting these enzymes is a common strategy for antiviral drug development.