Scientists Develop Optimized Peptide Decoy with Broad Coronavirus Therapeutic Potential
A rationally designed 23-residue peptide mimicking human ACE2 demonstrates significant antiviral activity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains. The optimized helical peptide shows promise as a therapeutic platform against coronaviruses using ACE2 for cellular entry.
Breakthrough in Coronavirus Therapeutics
Scientists have developed an optimized peptide decoy that effectively mimics the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein’s natural binding partner, ACE2, according to recent research published in Scientific Reports. The 23-residue helical peptide demonstrated a Therapeutic Index exceeding approximately 20 in authentic viral cell challenge assays, including against both wild-type and Omicron variants, sources indicate.