Dr. Stahelin COVID

Question 1

Remdisivir

Answer 1

• broad spectrum antiviral
• pro-drug that is bio-transformed to a ribonucleotide analog that can inhibit viral RNA polymerase (adenosine analog)
• delivered via injection to vein
• originally developed to treat hepatitic C and has been investigated for use against Ebola virus, Marburg virus, measles and ithers

Question 2

Nirmatrelvir

Answer 2

• orally bioavailable inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CLpro). 3CLpro cleaves polyprotein 1a and 1ab of SARS-CoV2.
• patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 ages 12 and older within 5 days of symptom onset
• peptidomimetic inhibits active site cysteine residue in 3CLpro. Can no longer make active nonstructural proteins from the polyprotein.