Multipurpose anti-viral pill may treat colds, norovirus, flu and covid

Researchers have discovered a drug capable of inhibiting several common viruses in laboratory settings, notably coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), norovirus, as well as influenza and hepatitis viruses. A clinical trial is planned for next year, sparking hope that this medication could eventually be used at home to alleviate symptoms or even curb infections during a potential future viral pandemic.

“To our knowledge, this is the first drug to show activity across all these viral families,” notes Daniel Haders, co-founder of Model Medicines, the California-based company spearheading its development. If it gains approval, Haders envisions it as a pill that individuals could take when experiencing flu-like symptoms without knowing if the cause is influenza, covid-19, RSV, or another virus.

The drug, initially created as a breast cancer treatment called ERA-923, was discontinued in the early 2000s due to limited effectiveness in trials. However, an AI drug-discovery platform developed by Haders and his team has identified that this overlooked medication could inhibit various viruses through a different mechanism.

This discovery process involved the platform searching for a drug capable of inhibiting a viral enzyme known as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which numerous viruses utilize for genome replication. The focus was on drugs that could attach to a segment of the enzyme called the Thumb-1 domain, which is conserved across multiple viruses. “We aimed to identify a biological chokepoint—a site where a single drug targeting a single element could address numerous diseases,” explains Haders.

Through analyzing data from historical papers and patents, the AI determined that ERA-923 could potentially bind to the Thumb-1 domain and thus obstruct viral replication. “Similar to how OpenAI and Anthropic have compiled all digital human knowledge, we have done the same for chemistry, biology, and clinical pharmacology,” Haders states. He has been applying computational methods to drug design since his PhD studies two decades ago, but notes that the AI tools available now are “vastly superior.”

To validate the AI’s prediction, researchers tested the drug, now called MDL-001, against various viruses in infected lab cells. It inhibited influenza A and B viruses, several coronaviruses causing common colds or covid-19, RSV (which can be severe in infants), norovirus (also known as the winter vomiting bug), and hepatitis B, C, and D, which harm the liver.

In addition, MDL-001 aided in treating covid-19 in mice by reducing the viral load in their lungs and minimizing weight loss from the disease. It showed similar effectiveness in mice with hepatitis B and C. Haders plans to present these findings at the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Munich, Germany, in mid-April.

Peter White from the University of New South Wales in Australia expresses skepticism, noting that other drugs targeting the Thumb-1 domain only inhibit hepatitis C, not other viruses. However, Model Medicines asserts that MDL-001 has a unique docking method that enables it to work against multiple viruses. Daniel Rawle at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, also points out that “most antivirals that are effective in vitro fail in vivo.”

Model Medicines is preparing to initiate a clinical trial for MDL-001, expected to start early next year. The initial focus will be on ensuring its safety, although past trials in breast cancer patients found it had minimal side effects.

Currently, viral illnesses significantly impact well-being and productivity, as people often need to take time off work when affected. A rapid, multipurpose antiviral pill that could be used at home would be transformative, according to Haders. He also suggests that MDL-001 could be beneficial during future pandemics involving new coronaviruses or influenza strains.