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Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of naproxen: from Influenza A to SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus

Terrier, O.; Dilly, S.; Pizzorno, M.-A.; Henri, J.; Berenbaum, F.; Lina, B.; Feve, B.; Adnet, F.; Sabbah, M.; Rosa-Calavatra, M.; Marechal, V.; Slama-Schwok, A.

2020-05-01 microbiology
10.1101/2020.04.30.069922 bioRxiv
Show abstract

There is an urgent need for specific antiviral drugs directed against SARS-CoV-2 both to prevent the most severe forms of COVID-19 and to reduce viral excretion and subsequent virus dissemination; in the present pandemic context, drug repurposing is a priority. Targeting the nucleoprotein N of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in order to inhibit its association with viral RNA could be a strategy to impeding viral replication and possibly other essential functions associated with viral N. The antiviral properties of naproxen, belonging to the NSAID family, previously demonstrated against Influenza A virus, were evaluated against SARS-CoV-2. Naproxen binding to the nucleoprotein of SARS-CoV2 was shown by molecular modeling. In VeroE6 cells and reconstituted human primary respiratory epithelium models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, naproxen inhibited viral replication and protected the bronchial epithelia against SARS-CoV-2 induced-damage. The benefit of naproxen addition to the standard of care is tested in an on-going clinical study.

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