Elsevier

Virology

Volume 547, August 2020, Pages 7-11
Virology

The FDA-approved gold drug auranofin inhibits novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) replication and attenuates inflammation in human cells

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2020.05.002Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Auranofin inhibits replication of SARS-COV-2 in human cells at low micro molar concentration.

  • Auranofin treatment resulted in significant reduction in SARS-COV-2-induced cytokines in human cells.

  • Auranofin could mitigate SARS-COV-2 infection and lung damage due to its anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.

  • Auranofin is a gold-containing FDA-approved drug.

Abstract

SARS-COV-2 has recently emerged as a new public health threat. Herein, we report that the FDA-approved drug, auranofin, inhibits SARS-COV-2 replication in human cells at low micro molar concentration. Treatment of cells with auranofin resulted in a 95% reduction in the viral RNA at 48 h after infection. Auranofin treatment dramatically reduced the expression of SARS-COV-2-induced cytokines in human cells. These data indicate that auranofin could be a useful drug to limit SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated lung injury due to its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-reactive oxygen species (ROS) properties. Further animal studies are warranted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of auranofin for the management of SARS-COV-2 associated disease.

Keywords

SARS-COV-2
COVID-19
Auranofin
Antiviral
Anti-inflammatory

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