Dundee University receives major fund to create antiviral covid drugs

Scientists will be working on oral treatments that will reduce transmission of the virus

Paul Wyatt
Author: Callum ClarkPublished 2nd Jun 2020

Scientists at Dundee University are to develop antiviral treatments to tackle covid-19.

They've been given €5 million to create orally dosed drugs that can reduce transmission.

It's hoped it will also tackle future coronaviruses.

Professor Paul Wyatt, Head of the DDU, said, “Covid-19 will not be the last coronavirus the world will face and, even if it is brought under control, we are still in the early stage of what will be a long-term fight.

“This investment enables us to bring Dundee’s expertise in drug discovery to bear on Covid-19 and future strains.

This is an insurance policy for the future because we want drugs proven to be effective against coronaviruses ready on the shelf when future outbreaks occur.

“This virus is a highly evolved organism that consists of only 28 proteins. It has become incredibly refined and successful by shedding all non-essential components.

Therefore, the virus that causes Covid-19 can only replicate by taking over the machinery of a host cell. In doing so it prevents the host cell from working properly, causing organ damage."

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