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J Med Chem
. 2025 Jun 13.
doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02874. Online ahead of print. Identification of 4'-Thiouridine as an Orally Available Antiviral Agent Targeting Both RdRp and NiRAN Functions of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp12
Minjae Kim 1 , Myoung Kyu Lee 2 , Inseong Jo 2 , Yejin Jang 2 , Soo Bong Han 2 3 , Juyeon Lee 2 , Ayeon Yang 1 , Dnyandev B Jarhad 1 , Hongseok Choi 1 , Yuhei Nogi 4 , Noriko Saito-Tarashima 4 , Noriaki Minakawa 4 , Meehyein Kim 2 , Lak Shin Jeong 1 5
Affiliations
Through screening of a nucleos(t)ide-focused chemical library, we identified 4'-thiouridine (1) as a potent antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells, with an EC50 value of 1.71 μM and a CC50 value exceeding 100 μM. Its triphosphate metabolite, compound 8, inhibited the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp12-Nsp7-Nsp82 complex, terminating nascent RNA synthesis through misincorporation. Additionally, compound 8 suppressed the function of the NiRAN domain of Nsp12, effectively blocking both RNAylation and NMPylation of Nsp9. Pharmacokinetic analysis in mice showed excellent oral bioavailability of compound 1. Oral administration at 100 mg/kg/day, twice daily for 5 days, protected mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in 40% survival and near-complete recovery of body weight by day 14 postinfection. Compound 1 also exhibited broad-spectrum activity against various coronaviruses and other RNA viruses. These findings highlight that compound 1 is a promising orally available antiviral candidate.
. 2025 Jun 13.
doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02874. Online ahead of print. Identification of 4'-Thiouridine as an Orally Available Antiviral Agent Targeting Both RdRp and NiRAN Functions of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp12
Minjae Kim 1 , Myoung Kyu Lee 2 , Inseong Jo 2 , Yejin Jang 2 , Soo Bong Han 2 3 , Juyeon Lee 2 , Ayeon Yang 1 , Dnyandev B Jarhad 1 , Hongseok Choi 1 , Yuhei Nogi 4 , Noriko Saito-Tarashima 4 , Noriaki Minakawa 4 , Meehyein Kim 2 , Lak Shin Jeong 1 5
Affiliations
- PMID: 40512093
- DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02874
Through screening of a nucleos(t)ide-focused chemical library, we identified 4'-thiouridine (1) as a potent antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells, with an EC50 value of 1.71 μM and a CC50 value exceeding 100 μM. Its triphosphate metabolite, compound 8, inhibited the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp12-Nsp7-Nsp82 complex, terminating nascent RNA synthesis through misincorporation. Additionally, compound 8 suppressed the function of the NiRAN domain of Nsp12, effectively blocking both RNAylation and NMPylation of Nsp9. Pharmacokinetic analysis in mice showed excellent oral bioavailability of compound 1. Oral administration at 100 mg/kg/day, twice daily for 5 days, protected mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in 40% survival and near-complete recovery of body weight by day 14 postinfection. Compound 1 also exhibited broad-spectrum activity against various coronaviruses and other RNA viruses. These findings highlight that compound 1 is a promising orally available antiviral candidate.