Comparative therapeutic efficacy of remdesivir and combination lopinavir, ritonavir, and interferon beta against MERS-CoV

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the causative agent of a severe respiratory disease associated with more than 2468 human infections and over 851 deaths in 27 countries since 2012. There are no approved treatments for MERS-CoV infection although a combination of lopinavir, ritonavir and interferon beta (LPV/RTV-IFNb) is currently being evaluated in humans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Here, we show that remdesivir (RDV) and IFNb have superior antiviral activity to LPV and RTV in vitro. In mice, both prophylactic and therapeutic RDV improve pulmonary function and reduce lung viral loads and severe lung pathology. In contrast, prophylactic LPV/RTV-IFNb slightly reduces viral loads…

• GS
  Gilead Sciences
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: U54-CA156733, ES010126, 5P30CA016086-41, P30 ES010126
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: U54-CA156733, 5P30CA016086-41, 5P30CA016086-42, 5P30CA016086
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Award: 5R01AI132178
• NI
  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

  Awards: 5 P30 ES010126-17, ES010126, P30 ES010126-17, P30 ES010126
• LC
  Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill