Effective Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Levels Using a Tailor-Made Oligonucleotide-Based RNA Inhibitor
Veronika Nemethova,
Petra Mazancova,
Michal Selc,
Kristina Jakic,
Lucia Uhelska,
Boglarka Nemethova,
Alexandra Poturnayova,
Lubos Drgona,
Andrea Babelova,
Filip Razga
Affiliations
Veronika Nemethova
Selecta Biotech SE, Istrijska 6094/20, 841 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
Petra Mazancova
Selecta Biotech SE, Istrijska 6094/20, 841 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
Michal Selc
Biomedical Research Center, Department of Nanobiology, Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
Kristina Jakic
Biomedical Research Center, Department of Nanobiology, Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
Lucia Uhelska
Selecta Biotech SE, Istrijska 6094/20, 841 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
Boglarka Nemethova
Selecta Biotech SE, Istrijska 6094/20, 841 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
Alexandra Poturnayova
Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
Lubos Drgona
Department of Oncohematology, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
Andrea Babelova
Biomedical Research Center, Department of Nanobiology, Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
Filip Razga
Selecta Biotech SE, Istrijska 6094/20, 841 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
In only two years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating effect on public health all over the world and caused irreparable economic damage across all countries. Due to the limited therapeutic management of COVID-19 and the lack of tailor-made antiviral agents, finding new methods to combat this viral illness is now a priority. Herein, we report on a specific oligonucleotide-based RNA inhibitor targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It displayed remarkable spontaneous cellular uptake, >94% efficiency in reducing RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) RNA levels in transfected lung cell lines, and >98% efficiency in reducing SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in samples from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 following a single application.
