Methods of treating coronavirus infection
The present invention provides methods for treating a coronavirus infection. For example, treatment may be effected by administering a neurotransmitter inhibitor, a signaling kinase inhibitor, an estrogen receptor inhibitor, a DNA metabolism inhibitor or an anti-parasitic agent. Also provided are methods for treating a coronavirus infection in which an anti-viral drug also is administered during any of the described methods.
1. A method for treating a coronavirus infection in a subject, comprising the step of:
administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a kinase signaling inhibitor selected from the group consisting of imatinib mesylate, nilotinib hydrochloride and dasatinib.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said coronavirus is Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said kinase signaling inhibitor inhibits viral activity by at least 50%.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said kinase signaling inhibitor inhibits viral RNA production and/or blocks endosomal fusion.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said kinase signaling inhibitor is administered in a concentration range of about 50 mg/kg to about 500 mg/kg per day.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
administering an antiviral drug.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said antiviral drug is selected from the group consisting of an interferon, ribavirin, adefovir, tenofovir, acyclovir, brivudin, cidofovir, fomivirsen, foscarnet, ganciclovir, penciclovir, amantadine, rimantadine and zanamivir.