Repurposing of cyclophilin A inhibitors as broad-spectrum antiviral agents

Drug Discov Today. 2022 Jul;27(7):1895-1912. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.05.016. Epub 2022 May 21.

Abstract

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is linked to diverse human diseases including viral infections. With the worldwide emergence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), drug repurposing has been highlighted as a strategy with the potential to speed up antiviral development. Because CypA acts as a proviral component in hepatitis C virus, coronavirus and HIV, its inhibitors have been suggested as potential treatments for these infections. Here, we review the structure of cyclosporin A and sanglifehrin A analogs as well as synthetic micromolecules inhibiting CypA; and we discuss their broad-spectrum antiviral efficacy in the context of the virus lifecycle.

Keywords: Antiviral; Cyclophilin A; Cyclosporin A; Debio-025; Drug repurposing.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents* / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents* / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Cyclophilin A / pharmacology
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Cyclophilin A