Yu Chen has shown that some existing compounds can inhibit both a viral protein and a protein required for the entry and replication of the COVID-19 virus in human cells. The USF Health team continues to improve existing antiviral drugs and hopes to apply this to COVID-19 drugs.

“If we can develop compounds to shut down or significantly reduce both processes – viral entry and viral replication – such dual inhibition may enhance the potency of these compounds in treating the coronavirus infection,” said Chen. “Metaphorically, it’s like killing two birds with one stone.”

• Yu Chen