RECOMBINANT PROTEIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION

The advances made in the therapy of viral diseases are of lesser magnitude than those achieved for the treatment of bacterial infections. Viruses are intracellular parasites that use the metabolic machinery of the infected host cell. Therefore, the development of antivirals presents a series of difficulties associated with this obligate parasitic nature. It is difficult to achieve adequate antiviral activity without affecting the metabolism of the host cell and without causing negative effects on other uninfected cells of the organism. IFNß exerts its biological activity through interaction with the IFNAR surface receptor formed by two subunits, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. The IFNAR2 subunit of the receptor undergoes processing that gives rise to three different isoforms, of which slFNAR2 has been suggested to have the capacity to neutralize the binding of IFNß to the IFNAR2 receptor. In this way, it could exert modulatory functions depending on the concentration at which it is found. Researchers have verified the antiviral effect of the recombinant protein on SARS-CoV-2, and therefore propose its use in the preparation of an antiviral treatment.

Competitive advantages

This invention constitutes a new strategy in the treatment of diseases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, its safety has been verified through toxicity studies in an in vivo model.

Uses and applications

This invention is part of the pharmaceutical sector, specifically in antiviral treatments. Currently, research is important on antiviral drugs that could be useful in the treatment of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus.