@article{95276,
  keywords = {Multidisciplinary, Clofazimine},
  author = {Yuan S and Yin X and Meng X and Chan JF and Ye Z and Riva L and Pache L and Chan CC and Lai P and Chan CC and Poon VK and Lee AC and Matsunaga N and Pu Y and Yuen C and Cao J and Liang R and Tang K and Sheng L and Du Y and Xu W and Lau C and Sit K and Au W and Wang R and Zhang Y and Tang Y and Clausen TM and Pihl J and Oh J and Sze K and Zhang AJ and Chu H and Kok K and Wang D and Cai X and Esko JD and Hung IF and Li RA and Chen H and Sun H and Jin D and Sun R and Chanda SK and Yuen K},
  title = {Clofazimine broadly inhibits coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2},
  abstract = {COVID-19 pandemic is the third zoonotic coronavirus (CoV) outbreak of the century after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 20031 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) since 20122. Treatment options for CoVs are largely lacking. Here we show that clofazimine, an anti-leprosy drug with a favourable safety profile3, possesses pan-coronaviral inhibitory activity, and can antagonize SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV replication in multiple in vitro systems. The FDA-approved molecule was found to inhibit viral spike-mediated cell fusion and viral helicase activity. In a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, prophylactic or therapeutic administration of clofazimine significantly reduced viral load in the lung and faecal viral shedding, and also mitigated inflammation associated with viral infection. Combinatorial application of clofazimine and remdesivir exhibited antiviral synergy in vitro and in vivo, and restricted upper respiratory tract viral shedding. Since clofazimine is orally bioavailable and has a comparatively low manufacturing cost, it is an attractive clinical candidate for outpatient treatment and remdesivir-based combinatorial therapy for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly in developing countries. Taken together, our data provide evidence that clofazimine may have a role in the control of the current pandemic SARS-CoV-2, and, possibly most importantly, emerging CoVs of the future.},
  year = {2021},
  journal = {Nature},
  publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
  issn = {0028-0836, 1476-4687},
  url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03431-4_reference.pdf},
  doi = {10.1038/s41586-021-03431-4},
  language = {eng},
}