POTENTIAL ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF PROTEASE INHIBITORS AGAINST COVID - 19 / SARS - COV – 2: PROTOCOL OF IN VITRO STUDY

Currently, targeted therapeutic agents for the treatment of COVID –19 are still not developed, and effective treatment options remain very limited. The penetration of the COVID - 19 / SARS - CoV – 2 coronavirus into cells depends on the activation of their glycoprotein envelope by virus proteases. Thus, the enzymes are excellent targets for antiviral intervention. However, it is currently still unclear which protease(s) contributes to the spread of the virus in the infected host. Due to the fact that protease inhibitors (aminocaproic and tranexamic acid) have shown their antiviral properties earlier, we assume that these inhibitors will block the virus, thereby preventing the virus from entering the cells of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. In order to assess the potential antiviral activity of aminocaproic and/or tranexamic protease against COVID - 19 / SARS - CoV – 2, we have planned an in vitro experimental study on a COVID-19 virus model.