Plitidepsin has potent preclinical efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the host protein eEF1A

Hurting the virus by targeting host Many proteins play a role in life cycle of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and some are required for viral replication translation. There efforts toward finding drugs that target proteins, but complementary approach is to these proteins. White et al. explored antiviral activity cyclic depsipeptide drug plitidepsin, which targets hosts cell's translational machinery (see Perspective Wong Damania). The authors show cells, substantially more potent than remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2, with limited cellular toxicity. Prophylactic treatment protected mice SARS-CoV-2 infection, so further investigation plitidepsin as therapeutic warranted. Science , this issue p. 926 ; see also 884