AI Article Synopsis
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations worldwide and the second-highest contributor to infant mortality after malaria.
- While three vaccines have been approved for older adults and pregnant women, there is no effective antiviral treatment available for RSV infections in general.
- This overview discusses recent advancements in developing small molecule antivirals targeting RSV's fusion and polymerase proteins, alongside insights from research on HCV and HIV, highlighting the importance of the newly approved vaccines.
Article Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) stands as the foremost cause of infant hospitalization globally, ranking second only to malaria in terms of infant mortality. Although three vaccines have recently been approved for the prophylaxis of adults aged 60 and above, and pregnant women, there is currently no effective antiviral drug for treating RSV infections. The only preventive measure for infants at high risk of severe RSV disease is passive immunization through monoclonal antibodies. This Perspective offers an overview of the latest advancements in RSV drug discovery of small molecule antivirals, with particular focus on the promising findings from agents targeting the fusion and polymerase proteins. A comprehensive reflection on the current state of RSV research is also given, drawing inspiration from the lessons gleaned from HCV and HIV, while also considering the impact of the recent approval of the three vaccines.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00630 | DOI Listing |
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