Polish scientists of Wrocław University of Science and Technology and Łukasiewicz – Industrial Chemistry Institute, in cooperation with the laboratories of Rolf Hilgenfeld (Lubeck) and Shaun Olsen (San Antonio), identified molecules with great therapeutic potential that could be a breakthrough on the way to an effective drug against COVID-19.

Thanks to their research work under the supervision of Prof. Marcin Drąg from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, it was possible to identify molecules that may act better than ebselene – a known anti-inflammatory drug, which in previous studies turned out to be a promising inhibitory substance of both SARS-CoV-2 proteases. The COVID-19-causing coronavirus has two proteases.

The aim of the project “Research on the vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and support for research work on the search for an effective therapy” is precisely to inhibit the enzyme, which will allow to block the spread of the virus.