Repurposing Thalidomide, Its Analogue And Apremilast For Possible Antiviral In Situation Of Severe Covid Cytokine Syndrome.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19, caused by SARS-corona virus-2, is a global wide expanded public health risk at a bizarre level. In this current situation, COVID-19 became a serious emerging pandemic. Choosing drug reusing is a crucial step in identifying the new uses of old established drugs. To achieve a significant and healthy way of treatment in COVID patients within a short duration, drug repurposing is a novel method. OBJECTIVE: The present study concentrated on the molecular docking of thalidomide and its analogues and Apremilast against Coronavirus infectious symptoms, evaluated on virus proteins (Spike Protein, 3cl Protease, Nucleocapsids). METHODS: The present study explores the possibility of repurposing thalidomide for the treatment of SARS-COV-2 infection by assessing and confirming with docking affinity scores of thalidomide & its analogues and Apremilast, with spike protein, 3cl protease, and nucleocapsids. RESULTS: From the study results, thalidomide, pomalidomide, lenalidomide, and Apremilast exhibited better binding affinity to N Protein (4KXJ), Protease (4WY3) and Spike Protein (5WRG). In comparison of targets, N Protein - 4KXJ is the best for the four ligands. It is finalized that all four ligands (Thalidomide - -8.6, Pomalidomide - -8.8, Lenalidomide,and - -8.2,and Apremilast - -8.1) have good docking scores with the target N Protein. CONCLUSION: The present study shows confirmation that thalidomide and its analogues and apremilast as a better fit for treating high risk patients of COVID -19 viral infection which are supposed to promote beneficial effects for both respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 symptoms as well as improve the pathological state of condition.