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An experimental drug against coronaviruses has been created
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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The test antiviral drug is expected to become a universal medicine for most types of coronaviruses, in particular for dangerous infections such as SARS or MERS.
Just a few years ago, epidemics of little-known and severe viral infections were recorded in the world. A little later, they were given the name of acute and Middle East respiratory syndromes. The atypical pneumonia virus was discovered in the early 2000s: at that time, no less than eight hundred people died from this virus. The mortality rate was then determined at 10%.
Middle East syndrome manifested itself in 2013, spreading from the Arab territories to France, Italy, Germany and South Korea. Over the 12 months of the epidemic, the mortality rate was about 40% - that is, more than 60 patients out of 140 infected died.
Coronaviruses are a whole family of RNA-containing viruses that have their own shell. The genus of coronaviruses consists of a large number of different pathogenic viruses that affect birds and mammals. These viruses can cause respiratory diseases, inflammatory processes in the liver, kidneys, intestines, heart muscle, as well as immune pathologies.
The infectious disease manifests itself with the symptoms of a common acute respiratory disease: for this reason, many are in no hurry to seek medical help, assuming that they are dealing with a common cold. However, the symptoms quickly increase, and the cold is soon complicated by a severe form of pneumonia - which, moreover, is not amenable to the effects of common antibiotics.
Both types of the syndrome are caused by genetically different viruses that belong to the coronavirus family. These infections can affect birds, mammals, and humans.
To date, no special vaccine or medication has been developed that could directly affect the mutating coronavirus.
However, just recently the periodical Science Translational Medicine published information that experiments conducted at the laboratory have proven the effectiveness of a test drug against the pathogens of SARS and MERS.
GS-5734 is a universal particle that affects a whole range of coronaviruses. At the moment, the substance is being tested against the most dangerous lethal virus - Ebola.
"The substance we created demonstrated broad antiviral activity against most coronaviruses. The therapeutic potential of this drug is amazing: we may be able to solve many complex medical problems with its help," says Professor Mark Denison, a specialist in pathology, immunobiology and microbiology, representing the medical faculty at the American Vanderbilt University.
Today, specialists continue to experiment with the new drug. They sincerely hope that it will soon help not only cure fatal pathologies, but also understand the complex biology of coronaviruses.
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