Dr Ewelina Węglarz-Tomczak from the chemical faculty of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology is conducting research that may help in developing the drug for COVID-19. Together with the team, she identified an organic compound that inhibits the activity of a key enzyme in virus development.

The research developed the PLpro enzyme, which is key to the progression of COVID-19 disease. PLpro is required for the propagation of the virus, and it also plays a role in deceiving the host’s immune system.

Further preliminary research suggested that organo-selenic compounds – e.g. ebselen – should effectively inhibit the enzyme. Ebselen has very low toxicity to healthy cells, therefore there are practically no barriers to its use in humans. The vision of using it to create a medicine is therefore very real.

The test results have been made available on the bioRxiv preprint platform (Ebselen as a highly active inhibitor of PLProCoV2).
More: https://pwr.edu.pl/uczelnia/aktualnosci/badania-nad-enzymem–ktory-moze-zahamowac-koronawirusa-11605.html