Drugs developed for SARS could help in treating the new coronavirus. Credit: Shutterstock.com

Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates

Follow the latest updates of the outbreak on our timeline.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Researchers in the US have mapped a SARS-CoV-2 protein, which could help use drugs developed to treat SARS coronavirus as effective treatments for the new Covid-19 disease.

A team of researchers from the University of Chicago, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine (UCR) carried out the mapping.

According to the team, the Nsp15 protein from SARS-CoV-2 is 89% similar to the SARS-CoV protein.

Previous SARS studies published in 2010 show that Nsp15 inhibition can slow viral replication, offering hope for the use of Nsp15-targeting drugs to treat Covid-19.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Mapping of a 3D protein structure allows better insights into the virus’ replication in human cells.

Northwestern University microbiology-immunology professor Karla Satchell said: “The NSP15 protein has been investigated in SARS as a novel target for new drug development, but that never went very far because the SARS epidemic went away, and all new drug development ended.

“Some inhibitors were identified but never developed into drugs. The inhibitors that were developed for SARS now could be tested against this protein.”

The team plans to release the Nsp15 protein structure to the scientific community on March 4 on the RSCB Protein Data Bank.

Last month, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US created a 3D map of the coronavirus to help design vaccines and antiviral treatments.