Merck, SML2877-5MG, SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor 11a

Biochem/physiol Actions
COVID-19 corona virus SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro; 3CLpro) substrate site Cys145 covalent inhibitor with low cytotoxicity in Vero E6 cultures.
Inhibitor 11a is a COVID-19 corona virus SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor that covalently targets the main protease (Mpro; a.k.a. 3C-like protease or 3CLpro) substrate site Cys145 (IC50 = 53 nM; 10 min pre-incubation with 30 nM SARS-CoV-2 Mpro prior to the addition of 20 μM substrate). Inhibitor 11a effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cultures (IC50 = 0.53 μM 24 h post infection with MOI = 0.05; cytotoxicity CC50 >100 μM) with good pharmacokinetic properties in mice in vivo (5 mg/kg via i.p. or i.v.).