A Singapore startup is testing its antiviral drug, RetroMAD1, against the SARS-CoV-2 beta-coronavirus that causes COVID-19. A spokesperson for Biovalence Technologies, the company that developed the drug, believes its drug could treat Covid-19. He said several scientific papers had revealed that a specific mutation of Sars-CoV-2 bears similarity to how dengue, Ebola, FeCoV and HIV infect their host through an enzyme known as the Furin protease.

RetroMAD1 was designed to inhibit the Furin protease found in all mammalian cells. It is known to open the door that allows viruses that have the activator to enter and infect. Continue reading

Source: TODAY, March 17, 2020.

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