3 existing drugs fight coronavirus with ‘almost 100%’ success in Jerusalem lab - The Times of Israel

Arkin said his optimism that the drugs will prove effective against future variants is based on what they target.

When confronting SARS‑CoV‑2, the drugs in question — darapladib, which currently treats atherosclerosis; the cancer drug Flumatinib; and an HIV medicine — don’t target the spike protein.

As such, drugs that target them are likely to remain effective in spite of mutations, Arkin said.

He commented: “The envelope protein in the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus is about 95% identical to that of the first SARS outbreak of 2003, whereas the spike protein is less than 80% identical.

Until now, the envelope protein was not seen as a promising target for drugs.

If so, please join The Times of Israel Community.