Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by the Cyclophilin Inhibitor Alisporivir (Debio 025).
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
In vitro bench study with no human or animal subject data.
PubMed 32376613 · doi:10.1128/AAC.00876-20
What was done
Researchers evaluated the antiviral activity of alisporivir (Debio 025), a nonimmunosuppressive cyclophilin inhibitor, against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cell cultures and investigated the stage of viral life cycle inhibition.
What was found
Alisporivir reduced SARS-CoV-2 RNA production in a dose-dependent manner with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 0.46 ± 0.04 μM. The compound inhibited viral replication at a post-entry step of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle.
Why it matters
These in vitro findings identify alisporivir as a candidate for drug repurposing against SARS-CoV-2 through host cyclophilin inhibition.
Limits
The study was conducted entirely in Vero E6 cell culture, so in vivo pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, cellular toxicity profiles, and safety in humans were not evaluated.
Cited by
- supports Debio 025 is the same drug as alisporivir.