Two coronavirus drugs used in cats might help humans infected with the novel coronavirus, according to a preliminary study recently published in the journal Nature. The drugs, dipeptide-based protein inhibitors, referred to as GC376 and GC373, are designed to treat cats with feline infectious peritonitis, a potentially fatal illness caused by another type of coronavirus, feline enteric coronavirus (FCoV), according to a press release about the study. The release explained that FCoV is a coronavirus that has traits similar to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. 2 PET CATS IN NEW YORK TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS“In cats, GC376 (the prodrug) converts to GC373 and was able to successfully treat cats with no toxicity. This may work in a similar way to fight the novel coronavirus in humans, they said.

Source: Fox News August 28, 2020 17:26 UTC