New research shows that diabetes medications could treat COVID-19 in diabetes patients

A DPP4 inhibitor bound to Covid-19 protein called SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, which is involved in its replication

Medications used to treat type-2 diabetes could be effective in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus in people with diabetes – a population with a much higher risk of infection and much higher probability of complications from the virus.

A new study from researchers at the University of Waterloo examined the 3D structure of the COVID-19 protein and found that a specific class of diabetes medications could bind to the virus and stop it from replicating. The study, which is pending peer review, indicates that the medication could be effective in curing COVID-19 in diabetes patients.

“Previous research has shown us the molecular structure of a COVID-19 protein, which is responsible for viral growth in the host cells” said Praveen Nekkar, a professor at Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy and lead researcher on the study. “My group decided to study this further by investigating the structure of the COVID-19 protein by using computational software to understand if existing drugs can bind to it and prevent replication of the virus in host cells.” 

Read the full story on the Waterloo Stories website.