Key message
By screening the ReFRAME drug repurposing library, we identified Lonafarnib as potential new RSV antiviral and were able to identify the mode of action of this drug.
Translational perspective
Since Lonafarnib is already licensed for the treatment of the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, an extension of the approval for the treatment of RSV infected patients would be much easier, faster and cheaper.
Original publication
Svenja M. Sake, Xiaoyu Zhang, Manoj Kumar Rajak, Melanie Urbanek-Quaing, Arnaud Carpentier, Antonia P. Gunesch, Christina Grethe, Alina Matthaei, Jessica Rückert, Marie Galloux, Thibaut Larcher, Ronan Le Goffic, Fortune Hontonnou, Arnab K. Chatterjee, Kristen Johnson, Kaycie Morwood, Katharina Rox, Walid A. M. Elgaher, Jiabin Huang, Martin Wetzke, Gesine Hansen, Nicole Fischer, Jean-Francois Eléouët, Marie-Anne Rameix-Welti, Anna K. H. Hirsch, Elisabeth Herold, Martin Empting, Chris Lauber, Thomas F. Schulz, Thomas Krey, Sibylle Haid & Thomas Pietschmann
Drug repurposing screen identifies lonafarnib as respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein inhibitor
Nature Communications volume 15, Article number: 1173 (2024).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41467-024-45241-y