Illustration of molecules of the protease inhibitor camostat mesilate (right), molecules of the nucleotide analogue remdesivir (left) and a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus particle (centre). Camostat and remdesivir are being investigated as treatments for covid-19, the respiratory infection caused by the Sars-CoV-2 (previously 2019-nCoV) virus. Camostat blocks the virus from entering human cells. Remdesivir disrupts the production of RNA (ribonucleic acid), the coronavirus genome and so stops the virus from replicating. Sars-CoV-2 was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As of March 2020, the virus has spread to many countries worldwide and has been declared a pandemic. Over 100, 000 have been infected with several thousand deaths. |