Probenecid inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vivo and in vitro

Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 10;11(1):18085. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-97658-w.

Abstract

Effective vaccines are slowing the COVID-19 pandemic, but SARS-CoV-2 will likely remain an issue in the future making it important to have therapeutics to treat patients. There are few options for treating patients with COVID-19. We show probenecid potently blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication in mammalian cells and virus replication in a hamster model. Furthermore, we demonstrate that plasma concentrations up to 50-fold higher than the protein binding adjusted IC90 value are achievable for 24 h following a single oral dose. These data support the potential clinical utility of probenecid to control SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / virology
  • Humans
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / virology
  • Probenecid / pharmacology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Probenecid