It seems like this project is about Mpro inhibitors only. I’d like to suggest a screen of inhibitors of the (host) SAHH enzyme, which is essential for viral replication; some of those already have favorable tox data.
Should I submit those as structures? Is there any lab that would be willing to take this on? It probably requires doing a CPE screen for antiviral activity in cell culture; could use a closely related coronavirus such as OC43 or MHV as proxy first.
Rationale:
Yoon J S , Kim G, Jarhad DB, et al. Design, synthesis, and anti-RNA virus activity of 6’-fluorinated-aristeromycin analogues. J Med Chem. 2019 Jul 11;62(13):6346-6362. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7075649/
Li, Guangdi, and Erik De Clercq. “Therapeutic options for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).” Nature reviews. Drug discovery 19, no. 3 (2020): 149. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-020-00016-0