Orally delivered MK-4482 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in the Syrian hamster model

Kyle Rosenke, Frederick Hansen, Benjamin Schwarz, Friederike Feldmann, Elaine Haddock, Rebecca Rosenke, Kent Barbian, Kimberly Meade-White, Atsushi Okumura, Shanna Leventhal, David W. Hawman, Emily Ricotta, Catharine M. Bosio, Craig Martens, Greg Saturday, Heinz Feldmann*, Michael A. Jarvis*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic progresses unabated in many regions of the world. An effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 that could be administered orally for use following high-risk exposure would be of substantial benefit in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we show that MK-4482, an orally administered nucleoside analog, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in the Syrian hamster model. The inhibitory effect of MK-4482 on SARS-CoV-2 replication is observed in animals when the drug is administered either beginning 12 h before or 12 h following infection in a high-risk exposure model. These data support the potential utility of MK-4482 to control SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans following high-risk exposure as well as for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2295
JournalNature Communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

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