U of A researchers to launch clinical trials for potential COVID-19 antiviral drug

Researchers at the University of Alberta are preparing to launch clinical trials to test if an antiviral drug that can cure a coronavirus in cats will be effective as a treatment for COVID-19 in humans. “In just two months, our results have shown that the drug is effective at inhibiting viral replication in cells with SARS-CoV-2,” said UAlberta Biochemist Joanne Lemieux. “This drug is very likely to work in humans, so we’re encouraged that it will be an effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19 patients.” The findings were published in peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications after being posted on the research website BioRxIV. Lemieux explained that, since the drug has already been used to treat cats with coronavirus, it has already passed many of the typical requirements for going to clinical trials and is able to move forward more quickly. U of A  (AB)