A drug created by a professor at Texas A&M University could become a useful treatment for patients with COVID-19.
The compound called MPI8 is designed to target a specific SARS-CoV-2 enzyme and prevent the virus from reproducing.
Fewer viruses in the body would mean faster recovery and fewer symptoms of COVID-19.
“It will serve as a very good treatment option,” said biological chemist and lead researcher Dr. Wenshe Ray Liu, Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University.
According to the Texas A&M University System, the potential effectiveness of MPI8 led Sorrento Therapeutics of San Diego, California, to seek exclusive intellectual property rights over the ingredient.
An agreement was announced in August between the company and Texas A&M University System.
Liu said the MPI8 molecule could be highly effective in treating not only the original COVID-19 viral strain, but also more aggressive variants such as the delta.
Liu said Sorrento expects to complete preclinical studies of MPI8 by the end of the year and seek FDA approval to begin clinical trials in humans in early 2022.
You can read the college ad about the drug here.