Recent Advances in SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors: From Nirmatrelvir to Future Perspectives
Andrea Citarella,
Alessandro Dimasi,
Davide Moi,
Daniele Passarella,
Angela Scala,
Anna Piperno,
Nicola Micale
Affiliations
Andrea Citarella
Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
Alessandro Dimasi
Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
Davide Moi
Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, S.P. 8 CA, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Daniele Passarella
Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
Angela Scala
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Anna Piperno
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Nicola Micale
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
The main protease (Mpro) plays a pivotal role in the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is considered a highly conserved viral target. Disruption of the catalytic activity of Mpro produces a detrimental effect on the course of the infection, making this target one of the most attractive for the treatment of COVID-19. The current success of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor Nirmatrelvir, the first oral drug for the treatment of severe forms of COVID-19, has further focused the attention of researchers on this important viral target, making the search for new Mpro inhibitors a thriving and exciting field for the development of antiviral drugs active against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses.